Blame game erupts as plans to open sixth at Arborfield School are put on hold – Wokingham.Today

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A BLAME game has erupted after the shocking news that the promised 6th grade arrangement at Bohunt School will no longer continue.

The long-awaited plan, which would also have included extra Year 7 places and a SEND provision, followed two petitions and a hard-fought campaign by Finchampstead residents.

The school was due to open in September and would have provided much-needed resources for an additional 200-300 students.

But the ruling LibDem party at Wokingham Borough Council this week admitted the plan was canceled – with all parties blaming each other.

In a statement on the Finchampstead & Barkham Community Facebook page, local LibDem councilors David Cornish and Ian Pittock issued what they called “sincere and painful apologies to the parents of the pupils at Bohunt School”. .

They admitted they had “failed” to keep an election promise and “for the consequences of not doing so”.

“When we stood for election in May, we promised that we would deliver a Sixth Form option to Bohunt for that September. Until last week we were convinced that would happen, but on Thursday night we were informed that it almost certainly wouldn’t happen.

“It’s a failure that we take personally but has much more serious consequences for students who thought they had a sixth form option there but no longer do.”

But the couple also blamed the Bohunt Trust, adding they were “shameful” pupils and parents were left disappointed.

“We are told it was the decision of the Bohunt Trust, without prior consultation with WBC executives. A list of other sixth form spots was issued to Bohunt by WBC. Bohunt has yet to pass them on to the parents.

“We will see the ins and outs of this in the days to come, but it is shameful that the needs of parents and pupils have become pawns in a power game between the Bohunt Trust and Wokingham Borough Council over money. .

“As said, more information will be shared on the background of this as soon as possible, but at this time, if any parent of Bohunt needs assistance, please contact us immediately.”

The Wokingham Borough Conservative Group on Bohunt’s School hit back accusing the LibDems of “duplicitous and dishonest” behaviour.

In a statement, Cllr Charles Margetts (Finchampstead North) and Cllr Graham Howe, Shadow Executive Member for Schools and Children’s Services, said they had repeatedly warned the project was in jeopardy and a lack of action by Wokingham Borough Council was wasting time and cost. increase.

It is a damning accusation against the Liberal Democrats who run the borough of Wokingham, Cllr said. Margetts.

These children and their parents deserve better. My fellow local Tories and I have campaigned for years to secure this desperately needed additional provision for the children of Finchampstead, Arborfield and Barkham.

Failure to comply with the SEND provision means that children with special educational needs and disabilities will travel unreasonable distances just to get to school. Apart from the very detrimental effect this will have on their education and the stress it will cause parents, the cost of travel will represent a significant additional expense for the council.

The previous Conservative administration was on track to provide the additional places by 2023. I have repeatedly warned that the complete lack of meaningful progress and the glacial pace of the Liberal Democrat Council is letting students, parents and the staff.

Cllr Graham Howe, Shadow Executive Member for Schools and Children’s Services, added: It’s the same pattern we see with the Lib Dems, they all talk but when it comes to delivery real, they sit on their hands and then blame others.

The previous Conservative administration delivered the first school to be built in the borough in half a century and we were well on our way to delivering the new Sixth Form. What confidence can borough residents have that the Liberal Democrats can do more than wring their hands and dither?

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