School organisation, places and planning

We provide information about number of pupils attending schools, size and capacity and changes being planned.

Planned changes to schools in the Royal Borough

One of the Royal Borough's legal duties is to make sure that there are enough school places for local children.  When the population is growing, this means expanding existing schools or opening new ones.  Other changes, such as changing the age range of a school, moving a school to a new site or combining two schools into one, may also be made from time to time to meet the needs of local residents.

All current planned changes are listed here.

New special school, Windsor

Windsor Girls School, Windsor

  • Permanent expansion, with an increase in the number admitted in each year group from 208 to 230 from September 2022.
  • Cabinet approved funding for new classrooms at the school in June 2021 (see item 6h), following public consultation.
  • Windsor Girls' School, their academy trust (the Windsor Learning Partnership) and the Royal Borough have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the scheme.
  • Planning permission for the scheme was granted in September 2022, and construction is currently underway.
  • The Department of Education has approved the expansion (required for academies).

New primary school places in Maidenhead

  • Consultation on new primary school places in Maidenhead was carried out in spring 2021.
  • The options were:
    • to return the former Forest Bridge/Oldfield primary school site on Chiltern Road to primary school use.
    • to expand Larchfield Primary and Nursery School from 30 to 60 places per year group.
    • to expand Lowbrook Academy so that it has 60 places in all year groups.
    • to expand St. Luke's Church of England Primary School from 45 to 60 places per year group.
    • to expand St Mary's Catholic Primary School from 45 to 60 places per year group.
  • The outcome of that consultation was reported to Cabinet in November 2021 (see item 6c).
  • Cabinet also considered a report on the latest demographic information (see item 6b), which explained that demand was now lower than expected.
  • Due to the impact of the pandemic, the longer-term demographic picture is uncertain. 
  • It is likely that, due to new housing, new primary school places will still be needed in South East Maidenhead in the next few years.
  • Cabinet agreed, therefore, that:
    • in principle, a new primary free school should open on the Chiltern Road site.  The process to open a new school will start once pupil projections show a clear demand for new primary school places in the area.
    • temporary use of the site may be considered, and a budget for refurbishment and remodelling of the site has been agreed to allow this to happen, ahead of the site being returned to primary school use.
    • the other options for new primary school places at Larchfield, Lowbrook, St Luke's and St Mary's schools will be kept under review.
  • This strategy will be revisited in Autumn 2023.

South Ascot Village Primary School, new Special Educational Needs Unit

  • The Royal Borough approved, at Cabinet in August 2020, the opening of a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) Unit at South Ascot Village Primary School.
  • The SEN Unit is for primary age children with social communication difficulties and related behaviours.
  • The new provision will open from September 2023.
  • A building scheme to remodel accommodation at the school is now underway.

Hilltop First School, new Resourced Provision

  • The Royal Borough approved, at Cabinet in March 2023, the opening of a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) Resourced Provision at Hilltop First School.
  • The Resourced Provision will be for first school age children with communication and interaction needs.
  • A further, statutory, consultation will be required, and will start in May 2023.
  • Planning permission for the new accommodation will be required.
  • The new provision is expected open from September 2024.

Trevelyan Middle School, new Resourced Provision

  • The Royal Borough approved, at Cabinet in March 2023, the opening of a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) Resourced Provision at Trevelyan Middle School.
  • The Resourced Provision will be for middle school age children with cognition and learning needs.
  • Planning permission for the new accommodation will be required.
  • The DfE will need to approve the provision, as the school is an academy.
  • The new provision is expected open from September 2024.

Wraysbury Primary School, new Resourced Provision

  • The Royal Borough approved, at Cabinet in August 2020, the opening of a new Resourced Provision at Wraysbury Primary School.
  • Work on the design of the new provision is starting in Autumn 2022.
  • Formal consultation on the proposal is likely to start shortly.
  • Planning permission may be required.

If you have any queries about the planned changes, please contact us on at schoolplaces@achievingforchildren.org.uk.