Wokingham Borough Council is pleased families from across the borough have sufficient confidence in the new Bohunt School Wokingham to apply for places there. Some 113 places have been offered for this September when the school opens its doors.
The council recognises that not all families will know how to get their children to their chosen school or what support they can expect. To answer both these questions a short guide with links to further material is available on the council’s website and search ‘school transport’.
Families fall into four groups; those who can walk to school, those that will be able to walk to school, those that we will provide transport to and those that can reach the school by public transport.
Improving routes
To support those that can walk to school, the council is looking at how routes can be improved. Preparation for improvement work is currently well underway. The council is looking at Barkham Road, A327 Eversley Road, Rickman Close subway and Sheerlands Road with a view to clearing vegetation where possible, improving crossing points and introducing speed reductions.
A safe walking route from Finchampstead is also being developed. Subject to further work, this is planned to include a shared cycle / pedestrian route along Nine Mile Ride (from California Crossroads to Park Lane) and a crossing point and new route between Park Lane and the school. Until this new route is in place, the council will support Finchampstead children with free bus passes.
Some neighbouring communities including Farley Hill, Swallowfield and Finchampstead village, do not have safe walking routes to any school, and as this will be their closest school free transport will be provided.
Other families have chosen the school who have other local schools within walking distance of their homes. In this situation the council can provide advice on how children can reach their chosen school using public transport.
The Leopard 3 bus route runs to Arborfield from Wokingham town (via Barkham and Finchampstead) and from Reading via the edge of Earley and Shinfield. The council’s MyJourney website provides links to a travel guide highlighting how the site can be reached by a combination of buses and walking. It also explains how a child can reach the Leopard 3 route from any Wokingham Borough home.
Further advice and assistance including additional help that may be available to low income families can be found on the schools and education webpage. Parents seeking further advice can call the Corporate Transport Unit on (0118) 974 6280 or (0118) 974 6118.
Brian Grady, head of strategic commissioning said “I am excited for those parents that have chosen the new Bohunt School Wokingham for their children. I know that very few parents will be familiar with public transport to the site and the support the council can offer, so I encourage them to seek out the information on the website and to contact us for information on travelling to the new school.”
