A school in Tilehurst WILL be able to double the number of pupils it takes on after a plan for the redevelopment of the school was approved.

Ranikhet Academy, a primary school in Spey Road, currently has a capacity of 210 pupils, who are served by 28 full time staff members.

Reading Borough Council submitted a plan to build a new school on the site that would accommodate 420 pupils, doubling the numbers at the school.

These pupils will be served by 40 full time staff and 12 part time members.

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The school used to operate as two-form entry until the 2015/16 academic year, and has been one form entry since then.

Although the school used to be two form entry, it was felt that it needed new facilities to accommodate future pupils.

Notably, there will be no movement of classes at Ranikhet while the build takes place.

There is also a 26 place nursery in the school which will remain on site.

The application to redevelop the school was discussed at the council’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday, May 30.

Councillor Josh Williams (Green, Park) was disturbed by the inclusion of a gas boilers in the plan.

He said: “We know we have to stop buying gas from murderous dictators, we know we have to stop burning fossil fuels for the sake of the planet and the sake of future generations.

“Even the dysfunctional Government we have now is going to ban the sale of gas boilers at some point.

“But this design includes gas boilers. And I’d like to know why?”

A council officer explained the gas boilers would be used to provide hot water for the kitchen, and would not be used to heat the school building as a whole.

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Although cllr Williams was releived the gas boilers would only serve a small function, he still called its inclusion “very disappointing.”

He said: “It seems like an astonishing inclusion for a council to put a gas boiler in a new build.”

Fellow opposition councillor Paul Carnell (Conservative, Thames) said he was “delighted” with the plan, but questioned why no zebra crossings were included.

Cllr Jo Lovelock (Labour, Norcot) explained that there will be a zebra crossing for the school eventually, but the best location for it has not been decided on yet.

The shool redevelopment was approved unanimously.

You can view the scheme using reference 211127 on the council’s planning portal here: http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/welcome.asp