A clash is looming over an increase in pupil numbers for a primary school in Caversham.

The Heights Primary was founded as a free school in 2014. Initially situated at Westfield Road Park, the school relocated to a permanent site at Mapledurham Playing Fields in September 2021. 

Since opening there, the school has been capped at 350 pupils. It now requires planning permission to increase that number by 70 to 420 pupils. 

A representative of The Heights has argued the expansion will provide more children with the opportunity to have an 'exceptional' education at the school. 

But the expansion project has been hit with complaints from The Warren and District Residents Association (WADRA), who argue the rise in pupil levels is not needed, and the school has already caused disruption to neighbours. 

WADRA has argued nearby residents have suffered intolerable noise from the school and its holiday club 'five days a week from early morning to 6pm'.

READ MORE: Neighbours complain about noise 'throughout the day' coming from The Heights Primary School

To address that concern, the school is exploring putting up an acoustic wall on the site to shield neighbours from the noise. 

Additionally, WADRA has complained that there are continuing issues with light pollution from floodlighting to the multi-use games area (MUGA) shining into people’s homes.

They have also cited data they believe demonstrates that more than 50 per cent of pupils attending the school come from outside of its catchment area. 

A representative for WADRA wrote: “There is no demographic evidence that 70 additional primary school places are required north of the Thames.

“There are currently 90 spaces not filled by children from this area.”

They argued that other schools in Caversham are "suffering financially" due to lower pupil numbers, and that increasing numbers at The Heights will further damage the financial situations of those schools.

In response, a representative for The Heights stated that in September 2024, it received 142 preferences for school places, of which 60 were first choices. 

Under the current pupil caps, a maximum of 50 children are allowed per year group. 

Advocating for the expansion A spokesperson for the school said: "We strongly believe that the local parents will welcome the additional high-quality primary school places in their area, and strongly hope to work with the residents in order to keep on raising a flourishing new generation of young people."

READ MORE: The Heights Primary called 'exceptional' by Ofsted inspector

The council's principal planning officer Matt Burns wrote an extensive report accessing the expansion. 

On the light issue, while he acknowledged that light cowls for the MUGA were initially only installed on two of the four floodlights, the outstanding cowls were installed in January this year. 

READ MORE: Neighbours complain about sports pitch lights from The Heights Primary causing disturbance to neighbours in Mapledurham

Mr Burns recommended that the expansion should be approved subject to a section 106 legal agreement to fund vital infrastructure.  

If an agreement cannot be reached, the council's assistant director of planning would be given the power to reject the application.

The expansion is due to be decided at the council's planning applications committee meeting on Wednesday, December 4. 

You can view the application by typing reference PL/23/1023 into the council's planning portal.