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Secondary school places revealed

Pupils across West Berkshire have been finding out which secondary school they will be going to in September.

This year we received 1,919 applications from Year 6 pupils and were able to allocate 98% a place at one of their preferred secondary schools. We were delighted to be able to match the majority of pupils (88%) with their first choice school. 

School allocations remained broadly in line with previous years despite the number of Year 6 pupils rising to its highest level.

Dominic Boeck, our Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education says:

“We’re delighted that we’ve been able to maintain our high percentage of preferred secondary school allocations. The increased numbers placed considerable pressure on available school places, particularly in Newbury where growth has been significant.

"We know that moving up to secondary school is extremely challenging for both parents and children and always try very hard to offer as many children as possible their preferred school. With that in mind, our long term planning enabled us to provide support, so that some schools could increase capacity and ensure a high percentage of pupils can still be offered their first choice school.”

We wish all pupils starting secondary school in September every success with their studies.

Setting our budget for next year

Our budget for 2022/23 is set to be presented to Council tomorrow evening.

It contains a range of commitments to enhance and maintain the services on which residents rely - including new spending on schools, transport and other infrastructure to promote post-pandemic recovery and renewal. This includes:

• A £52 million investment in new and improved educational facilities across the district
• £12 million on leisure facilities
• More than £80 million to improve local infrastructure. This includes a range of new schemes, for example, enabling longer opening times at Newbury Lido, investment in play and recreational facilities and the upgrade of Theale railway station.

The Council meeting begins at 5.30pm tomorrow (Thursday) and will be streamed live on our YouTube channel. 

Ukraine: Our Statement

This week we have issued the following statement in solidarity with the people of Ukraine:

"Like people across the district, our thoughts, prayers and sympathies are with the people of Ukraine at this difficult time. The disturbing events of the last few days have been felt across Europe, the world, and also here in West Berkshire.

"We are proud of our history of supporting refugees in West Berkshire and we stand ready to offer assistance again as and when it's required."

Could you Foster a teenager?

Our Family Placement Team are currently seeking new foster carers to offer homes to teenagers.

Fostering usually conjures up an image of small children, yet we often have teenagers who need a loving home to see them through their vital years. Some of the children we work with may have learning difficulties or be seeking asylum from another country. Many have experienced some form of harm or neglect and need support to move forward.

If you’re compassionate and patient, you could make a great foster carer and really help a young person on their journey into adulthood.

If you feel you could take on the challenge of fostering a teenager, please call the Family Placement Team on 01635 503155 or email the team.

Your call could help to write the next chapter for children in care in West Berkshire.

Join us at our Spring Food & Craft Fair

Spring is in the air and we are celebrating with the return of the Spring Food & Craft Fair at Shaw House.

Explore the House and browse over 60 stalls offering artisan food, drink and locally produced crafts, giving you the perfect opportunity to shop for unique gifts and treats. The café will be serving light refreshments and a delicious selection of hot food will be available to enjoy from caterers outside on the lawns.

The children’s entry price includes an activity trail in the grounds and a goody bag to take home, the indoor activity room and exhibition rooms will be open too!

Sunday 3 April | 11am – 4pm | Adults £2, Children £1 (Free for children aged 3 years and under)

Tickets must be pre-booked online

Calcot School Street Review

We'd love your thoughts on the Calcot School Streets initiative.  

In order to reduce congestion, improve air quality and make it both easier and safer to walk to school, we introduced a pilot initiative prohibiting vehicles near Calcot Infant and Junior school at either end of the school day.

It’s a pilot scheme which, if successful, could be rolled out to other schools across West Berkshire. It's now been six months and we're reviewing how it's gone. Your feedback will shape any changes to the Calcot scheme and help set the basis for other schools in our district, should the scheme have a positive impact, and be found to encourage more active travel choices. 

You can share your feedback by 11 March here: https://westberksschoolstreetsphase2.commonplace.is/

Wasting Food Feeds Climate Change

Every bit of leftover food has an environmental impact - whether it’s that soggy bag of salad or last night’s leftovers. But did you know that food waste from UK households produces roughly 25million tonnes of CO2 every year.

Next Monday (7 March) we’ll be joining in Food Waste Action Week 2022. If you’re hungry for change visit lovefoodhatewaste.com/fwaw to find out how you can get involved today and be well on your way to saving an average of £720 a year!  Join in with us on our Recycle for West Berkshire Facebook page for tips throughout next week.

And finally...

• Council Leader Lynne Doherty has published a new video updating residents on what the Council was up to last week. You can watch it on YouTube.

• In the latest Forward Together blog post, Lynne Doherty has reflected on the Government's Levelling Up White Paper and what it means for West Berkshire.