Thousands sign petition calling for new sixth form

Thousands of people have called on a council to honour its promise to provide a school with a new sixth form block.

The Emmbrook School, in Wokingham, agreed to take on more students and staff members to address a shortfall in secondary school places across the borough, along with St Crispins and Piggot Schools.

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) said in return it would build a new sixth form centre for the school, after its existing one was converted into a larger dining hall.

In response to the petition it said the money would be in the 2026/27 budget.

The school saw the number of students it took per year rise by 210, while the number of staff rose by 22.

Plans for the new sixth form were approved in March 2023 and it was set to open in September this year.

Now, a petition calling for "immediate action" signed by 2,287 people has been presented to councillors.

Sarah Thomas told a full council meeting on 20 March Year 12 and 13 students were currently in temporary accommodation with "very limited space".

"This continues to be the place were 143 sixth formers independently study, sharing 28 chairs and 40 computers," she said.

"The new sixth form facility remains unfunded by WBC, with no clear timeline or confirmation – we need that honoured."

The petition organiser asked council leaders to allocate funding, specific start and finish dates, and preserve the original planning permission, which is set to expire in May 2026.

In response, executive member for children's services Prue Bray said the council had agreed with the academic trust that money will be allocated for the scheme in the 2026/27 budget. This was agreed in May 2024.

Ms Bray said the authority was "proceeding in accordance" with the agreement and that "evidence of progress should begin to emerge later on in the summer".

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