Wokingham

Wokingham District Council has been rated as a good council that is improving well in its latest national assessment.

The Wokingham district council’s comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) gave it a three out of four star rating, meaning it is defined as ‘good’, and rated its services as ‘improving well’. The CPA is an inspection by the Audit Commission to assess how well local authorities provide services. The authority’s overall rating is made up of individual assessments for: the way it uses its resources, its benefits services, children and young people’s services, cultural services, environment services, housing services and social care for adult services as well a corporate assessment that looks at the quality of the council’s leadership and plans for the future. The council’s most recent corporate assessment gave Wokingham District Council a three out of four rating.

The Wokingham district council scored a four out of four rating in the use of resources category – one of only two in the south east to achieve this (the other being Kent County Council). The use of resources section examines how the authority ensures it is providing the highest possible service standards at the lowest possible costs. The audit commission stated that the council is ‘improving value for money and is ahead of government efficiency targets.’

Wokingham District Council also scored four out of four for environment services (see separate press release, 105b/07).

The council’s benefits service, which scored three out of four, achieved a 97 per cent compliance level against national performance standards, up from 89 per cent in 2005. The council’s revenues service collected 99.1 per cent of council tax due, which was the highest level of performance in the country.

The Wokingham district council’s adult social care were judged by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the national watchdog for social care, to ‘serve most people well’ and also earned a three out of four rating.

The Wokingham district continues to perform excellently in education, with GCSE pupils rating fifth nationally for the percentage who gained five A* to C passes including maths and English. Key stage three pupils ranked third nationally in English, second in maths and fourth in science for level five and higher achievement. And key stage two pupils ranked fourth nationally in English, second in maths and first in science for achieving level four or higher. However the CPA for children and young people’s services was based on an annual performance assessment carried out by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) and the Commission for Social Care Inspection in June last year. This highlighted some problems in the way the council had served its looked after children that have since been addressed by an improvement plan. Overall, children and young people’s services earned a two out of four rating.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council’s executive has approved more than £320,000 worth of grants to community and voluntary groups and more than £60,000 worth of contributions to the Wokingham district’s economic development, as part of an overall package of support that equates to more than £2 million.

The Wokingham executive approved the grants for 2007/8 to organisations dedicated to helping people in the Wokingham district. These go to small community organisations such as local support groups as well as larger charities that operate locally such as the Wokingham Citizens’ Advice Bureau. The executive approved a total of £328,921 worth of grants on Thursday February 22, including six new grants, totalling £9,700, to Berkshire MS Therapy Centre, Crowthorne Old Age to Teens, Earley Churches Link Line, St John Ambulance Society, Wokingham Crossroads and Wokingham Dyslexia Support.

The executive also approved £61,240 contributions to economic development throughout the Wokingham district. These will go to the Wokingham Town Centre Steering Committee, Woodley Town Centre Management Initiative, Twyford Village Centre Management Initiative and Wokingham Job Support.

The annual voluntary sector grants are part of the overall package of support Wokingham District Council gives to local voluntary and community groups in recognition of the considerable work they do in providing a wide range of services to local communities. The council has discretionary powers to direct resources to supporting local voluntary and community sector development, including annual revenue grants, service level agreements, economic development work, accommodation grants and discretionary rate relief. For 2007/8 this will equate to more than £2 million.

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for community development, said: “I am delighted the executive has approved these grant bids, which reflect the wide range of vital work carried out by the voluntary and community sector and the importance the district council attaches to their efforts.
“It was pleasing to be able to maintain the level of grant funding plus inflation wherever possible a move that increases support to the voluntary sector at a time when we particularly need its help.

The grants approved included ongoing funding for the general running cost of organisations that have three-year core grant agreements in place. These core grant agreements give organisations the stability to plan ahead because their grants are approved as a contribution to general running costs for three years subject to monitoring at the district council’s annual budget process. Wokingham District Council has ongoing three-year agreements with: Council for Voluntary Action-Wokingham District, Indian Community Association, Pakistan Community Centre, Just Around the Corner, Mobile Information Centre, Wokingham Access and Resource Counselling and Wokingham Job Support. Wokingham District Council is also seeking to renew its existing core grant agreement with Wokingham Citizens’ Advice Bureau from April 1 and negotiate a new one with Wokingham Volunteer Centre for its volunteer development centre.

The Council for Voluntary Action-Wokingham District, the main umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector, played an independent advisory role in the grants process. Applications for grants were subjected to a thorough review and financial appraisal.

Wokingham District Council

A gaming club has proved a hit at Winnersh Wokingham Library and is looking to expand its membership.

The Winnersh Gaming Club, at which members play popular strategy and tactics simulation war games, was launched last year thanks to the enthusiasm of a group of teenagers and the help of library staff.

Chris Smith, 18, a pupil at The Forest School, Wokingham runs the club, which has now established a regular membership of 15 to 20 who meet twice a month on Saturday mornings and is looking to attract more members.

Chris said: “The game makes you think quite a bit and, if you want to get good at it, there are a lot of tactics and strategy to learn. The club has been doing very well, but we need more members now and it is the more the merrier really. It is a good hobby and great fun with a lot of things involved.”

Wokingham District Council library service helped launch the club with a £200 grant and library staff help Chris run its sessions. The simulation games played at the club (Lord of the Rings, Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000) involve players making strategic and tactical military decisions to compete against one another using small figures representing armies. Players not only take part in the game but also paint the figures as well.

Elizabeth McDonald, Wokingham District Council’s children’s librarian, said: “The games are very strategy based – like a modern version of chess – and it is great fun. They are also a good way to get teenage boys into the library, which is an important aim for us, and we do have a rule that everybody who comes must borrow one book from the library. Some of the members are brilliant at painting the figures and are very creative and they use our books, computers and internet too.”

The sessions cost £1, which is used for buying more gaming equipment, and those going along do not need to provide anything themselves or have any experience. The club is open to anybody aged 12 and older.

Wokingham District Council

“Think before you park” – that’s the message from community wardens at Wokingham District Council this February, as they visit schools around the district spreading an important road safety message.

Wokingham Community wardens Lesley McCambridge and Emma LeRoy have designed a leaflet to remind drivers of the dangers they pose when they park irresponsibly outside schools to drop children off or pick them up.

“Westende School is positioned on a busy residential road that is used by many motorists as a cut through onto a major road. There is very limited parking and limited visibility. Cars were regularly stopping on the school zigzags and the double yellow lines, which is illegal and was causing a particular danger to the children crossing the road,” explains Lesley.

“After consultation with a road safety officer we produced a leaflet to remind parents and children of the dangers of cars parked in this way, and we have since been maintaining a regular presence outside the school and distributing the leaflet, giving people advice on safe parking.”

The leaflet gives details of the road safety website where Wokingham parents can also find out about the new seatbelt law for children, and has proved to be a great reminder of the dangers that all drivers need to bear in mind during the school rush hour.

“It has been so successful that we have begun to use the leaflet at other schools across the district,” says Lesley. “We find it offers a great opportunity to speak to both young children and their parents, and explain to them why it is dangerous to park illegally.”

Executive member for highways and transport Wokingham Cllr Anthony Pollock said: “School rush hour is a busy and difficult time for parents, and that’s why people should be extra careful. I hope that having the community wardens on hand, offering friendly reminders about the dangers, will help parents to remember to take a little extra time and care over where they park.”

Wokingham District Council

Environment services in the Wokingham district are top class according to the latest assessment by the Audit Commission which awards the council four out of four – one of only twenty councils in the country.

Each year, local authorities are evaluated through the Comprehensive Performance Assessment that looks at services provided and how they are managed. Last year only eight authorities across the country achieved the top score. The assessment covers everything from highways and waste and recycling to planning and trading standards. Looking at the themes of ‘Creating a better environment’, ‘Managing the environment well’ and ‘Sustaining a quality environment for future generations’, the assessment included a review of the statistical information that the council collects to demonstrate its performance to central government (known as Best Value Performance Indicators).

And a number of these have improved significantly over the last year, allowing the Wokingham environment rating to move from a two to a four. Examples of the significant achievements include:

§ Current performance on recycling and composting meets new government target of 33% of all household waste (up from 30% for 2005/06).

§ Signing a £600million joint waste management contract with Reading and Bracknell Forest Borough Councils to further increase recycling and reduce reliance on landfill.

§ Cleanliness of the district improving, moving to 16% this year (2006/07) from 21% eighteen months ago (percentages are a value judgement by inspectors according to the terms of the Environmental Protection Act).

§ 2010 target for reduction in numbers of ‘Killed and Serious Injury’ accidents on the district’s highways met three years early.

§ 100% disabled access to all road crossings with signals in the district.

§ Condition of major roads in the district puts Wokingham in the top 25% nationally.

§ 67% of major planning applications (10 units or more) are now turned around within the target time of 13 weeks.

Executive member for Wokingham corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “This is a tremendous result for both officers and councillors who have worked together to improve the levels of service offered in this area. Environment covers a section of our work that really affects people’s day-to-day lives, and it is important that we get it right.

“External recognition that puts us amongst the best in the country is even more welcome, given that we are operating on such tight resources. I’d like to offer my thanks to everyone who was helped us to achieve this fantastic standard for our residents.”

Wokingham District Council

Electric wheelchair users at the Wokingham Westmead Day Centre are ready to play now that their high table is back in action! A specially designed high table where Westmead service users eat their meals, play games and socialise in the evenings broke last week (February 16). The breakage left electric wheelchair users high and dry with nowhere to sit, and faced the Wokingham centre with a repair that could have cost several hundred pounds.

But local company Custom Metal Craft in Bennett Road, Reading, quickly repaired the table free of charge, so that care Wokingham activity officer Sheila Parkin was able to take the table back to the centre even before it was missed.

“They did the work so quickly that we had the table repaired and back in its place before it was needed at lunch time,” said Sheila. “We’re all very impressed, and we’d like to thank Custom Metal Craft for their generosity and excellent repair work.”

Executive member for Wokingham social care and housing Pauline Helliar Symons said: “I’m delighted to see a local business offering the Westmead Centre their support in this way. Donating services like this is absolutely invaluable and enables the centre’s money to be spent on other things. I would like to thank Custom Metal Craft very much indeed.”

Westmead Day Centre in Rances Lane, Wokingham, offers rehabilitation and respite care to physically disabled adults over 18 years. More information about the centre is available on (0118) 989 4032.

Wokingham District Council

Green fingered residents had grand designs on Montague Park in Shinfield last week, and joined contractors and community wardens from Wokingham District Council to plant 225 shrubs there.

As part of its work to tackle anti-social behaviour and improve community spirit in the estate, Wokingham council consulted with all residents of Montague Park in Shinfield on how they would like to improve the green area which they felt was encouraging bad behaviour from some of the area’s young people. With help from community wardens, residents chose from three different landscaping options, each designed to discourage anti-social behaviour and improve the look of the estate.

When the favoured design was chosen, Wokingham council’s contractors Quadron began replacing trees and planting four triangular beds of shrubs around the central green and play area. And last Thursday (February 15) some ten local residents joined council chairman Cllr Angus Ross and council community wardens to help plant the final bed of shrubs.

“Steve Smith from the grounds maintenance and horticulture team arranged for two staff from Quadron to run the project, and provide plenty of tools for us all,” said community warden Zarron Phillips. “We planted mixed shrubs of five different varieties and we were delighted that so many local people came along to help – it looks great now.”

Wokingham Cllr Ross said: “It was especially nice to see that seven of the volunteers were young people who gave some of their half-term holiday time to come and join in. It shows that anti-social behaviour in the area is caused by a small minority and that many of the area’s young people take pride in their local area. Well done to everyone who helped with the planting.”

Zarron Phillips added: “This work has been funded by Wokingham District Council, but there is also £200 donated by Shinfield Parish Council still available. We hope to use it to hold a competition for young people in the area to design a sign discouraging anti-social behaviour.”

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham Cllr Dianne King, executive member community development, visited Wokingham Library last week to find out more about complementary therapy.

The Wokingham district’s libraries have joined forces with The Complementary Therapy Clinic, Wokingham for a health promotion throughout February and Cllr King dropped in to a session on Thursday February 15 to lend her support. She went to Wokingham Library in Denmark Street to see a complementary therapy session for children.

Cllr King said: “It was interesting to learn more about complementary therapy and to support a healthy campaign being run by the clinic and library staff. The families and children at the library were extremely interested in the health benefits of complementary therapy.”

As well as the sessions, which will include acupuncture, reiki and massage, anybody joining any of Wokingham district’s libraries in February will get a £5 voucher towards treatments or products at the clinic, in Denmark Street. And all the clinic’s customers during the month will get a flyer entitling them to two free DVD rentals if they join a district library.

Wokingham District Council

Top magicians and performers are supporting Twyford-based children’s charity, Feed The Children UK’s exciting evening of magic, comedy and illusion on Saturday 24th March at Bearwood College Theatre, Sindlesham, Wokingham. Starting at 7pm tickets cost just £15 for adults, £10 for children under 16, family of four £45 and a group of 10 £140.

A truly enchanting array of magical stars will be gathering at Bearwood College Theatre in Wokingham for this one night only, many of whom have graced our television screens over the years. Compered by Grand Prix winning comedy magician Mark Shortland, the all star Wokingham line up has been confirmed as: Stage Acts: John Archer (Comedy Magician) TV Sky One Undercover Magic, Alan Shaxon (Magic Circle President), Michael Pearse (Comedian Juggler), Bertie Pearce (Ventriloquist), Jonathan Shotton (Multi award winning magician, probably the second youngest member of The Magic Circle), Roy Davenport (Magic has been in this family for generations), Guy Barrett (Large Illusions) One of the top two or three illusionists in the UK. Close Up Magic: Kerry Scorah (TV Sky One Undercover Magic), Mike Alderman (Magic Circle Council Member and Director of The Centre for Magic Arts i.e. The Magic Circle’s HQ), Chris Pratt (Secretary of The Magic Circle), David Ball (Secretary & Treasurer of The Centre for Magic Arts.)

“As you can see from the magicians appearing it is unusual to have this level of quality acts performing together on one occasion and tickets are selling fast,” Brain Main, CEO of Feed The Children. Tickets for the Wokingham show are available from Feed The Children on 0118 932 0095, by email info@feedthechildren.org.uk or by post to Feed The Children, 2 Tavistock Industrial Estate, Ruscombe Lane, Ruscombe, Twyford, RG10 9NJ.

“Last year’s show was tremendous,” says Brain Main. “We have a fantastic display of entertainment lined up for Feed The Children Variety Performance 2007 and we are hoping that we will have a full house at Wokingham in order to raise as much money as possible.”

Feed The Children @ Wokingham

A vision for the future of the Wokingham district will be discussed at a conference next month.

The Wokingham District Community Conference, entitled Delivering the Vision Together will bring together all the major community, voluntary, public and private sector organisations in the area to discus how they can work together for a better future. And it is open to members of the public.

The conference has been organised by the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), which includes all the key stakeholders in the Wokingham district, such as police, fire and ambulance services, district, town and parish councils, health services, voluntary and community groups and local businesses, who work together to improve residents’ quality of life.

The event will include workshops on the LSP’s Community Ambitions, which are: balancing economic prosperity with sustaining quality of life, maintaining a healthy and well educated community, supporting people who need help and creating a community where everybody feels safe, welcome and respected.

Cllr Dianne King, who chairs the LSP, said: “This is a extremely important conference and I would urge anybody who has an interest in the future of the district to come along. The issues that will be discussed are vital to the district’s future and one of the major aims of the LSP and the conference itself is to involve as wide a cross section of the community as possible.”

During the conference, a compact will be signed between Wokingham District Council, Berkshire West Primary Care Trust and the local voluntary and community sector to set agreed standards for future work together and a revised draft of the Community Strategy will also be published to set out objectives for sustaining the quality of life within the

Wokingham district. Details of a competition to design a new logo for the LSP will also be announced during the day.

Simon Hebditch, the chief executive of Capacitybuilders, a government-funded group that helps the voluntary sector work more effectively, will also address the conference on the future of the community sector and will chair the state of the district debate, during which the conference will discuss all aspects of life in the Wokingham district.

The conference is at the Salvation Army Centre in Earley on Friday March 9 and places can be booked in advance, by Friday March 2, from Jane Harvey at Wokingham District Council on (0118) 974 6008 or email at jane.harvey@wokingham.gov.uk.

Wokingham District Council

During the Wokingham half term holiday (February 12 to 16), over 200 young people from the Wokingham district have backed an anti-knife campaign by signing a pledge wall in memory of Damilola Taylor.

Organised locally by Wokingham District Council’s villages youth project, a mobile pledge wall was taken to a variety of venues in the district during the half term holiday and young people were encouraged to sign the wall and pledge never to carry a weapon in the future.

And on Friday (February 16) young people were joined by Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Angus Ross and town Mayor Cllr Dianne King at the pledge wall in Market Place, Wokingham.

Wokingham Neighbourhood youth worker Louise Morris who organised the event said: “We ran a whole series of themed-events to challenge young people about weapon carrying and to raise awareness of their dangers. Whilst this is a serious topic, we also wanted to offer a whole range of fun activities for young people to take part in. It was a hugely successful week.”

Stacey Tagg, aged 18, from Finchampstead, said: “We want to make sure that young people do not carry knives or weapons and that everyone feels safe in their community. Sometimes young people think they will be safe if they carry a knife. But this is not always the case and we need to remind them that carrying a knife is not a good way to protect themselves – it can be a way for them or others to get badly hurt or even worse. We have talked to so many young people this week, and I hope this campaign will really make a difference.”

Wokingham District Council

From next Tuesday (February 27), Wokingham District Council’s Mall Gallery at Shute End will be hosting the “Sharing visions and voices” exhibition, a display of artwork produced by clients of Woodley Age Concern Day Centre.

The artwork was produced during a recent community art project at the day centre. The project began in November 2006 and ran for 10 weeks, with 14 participants who were all regular users of the day centre. The sessions combined drama workshops with visual art forms such as painting and collage.

Participants in the drama workshop worked with drama practitioner Matt Young to create two imaginary characters called Marjory and George who were embroiled in a tale of love affairs, golf and even murder. Meanwhile visual artist Joanne Werrett and other members of the group used techniques such as silk painting and collage to bring the story and the characters to life.

Artwork created during the projects will be on display in The Wokingham Mall Gallery later this month, including a stunning painting Teacup by Reina Sharratt, along with photographs taken during the sessions. The exhibition is open for the public to view from February 27 to March 29, 8.30am to 5pm every weekday, in The Mall Gallery at the Civic Offices in Shute End.

The project was managed by ITHACA* and supported by Wokingham District Council’s community care services, Woodley Older People’s Forum (WISE) and Woodley Age Concern. The exhibition is sponsored by Wokingham District Cultural Partnership.

Visual artist Joanne Werrett said of the project: “I was very surprised and inspired by the participants’ spontaneity when building the characters and taking it forward. It has been a unique experience. Everyone was enthralled – there was no shortage of imagination, playfulness, laughter and fun.”

Margaret Boag, one of the day centre clients who participated in the project, explained how the sessions had helped her: “This has been very interesting and I really got to know people. I see them at the day centre but know nothing about them – now I’ve met them.”

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for Wokingham community development, said: “This project shows how community art projects can really make a difference to local people. Many of the older people who participated commented on how the sessions helped them develop new skills and meet new people. The pieces of artwork created by the group are absolutely stunning. I hope that we can build on these achievements with similar projects in future.”

Wokingham District Council

An estimated 6,500 local people were contacted or responded to Wokingham District Council’s formal consultation on possible changes to the social care services it provides to people across the district.

Held from December 1 2006 to February 9 2007, the consultation document explained why Wokingham council is having to consider these as changes as well as asking local service users, carers and service providers for their views.

And this week (Thursday February 22) will see Wokingham council’s decision-making executive consider the results from this comprehensive consultation and to decide whether or not to adopt the proposal to change the criteria on who can receive social care from the council from those with moderate needs to those with critical needs.

The executive members are also set to approve additional funding of some £650,000 over two years to invest in setting up alternative community support and prevention services. This is in addition to some £477,000 already ear-marked, bringing the council’s total investment in alternative support and prevention services to over £1.1million.

Wokingham Cllr Debbie Lewis, lead member for social care finance, said: “We have listened to and acknowledge the views expressed by local people and organisations during the consultation, which will help form the basis for developing future services.

“We were particularly encouraged by the positive responses regarding proposals to invest in community support and prevention services. In the light of severe and continuing financial and demographic pressures, we believe the council needs to reform its social care services in order to prioritise community investment whilst maintaining individual services for the most vulnerable people and their carers.”

A key reason for the proposed changes is that the council, along with many others across the country, simply does not receive enough funding from central government for adult social care.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham district libraries are giving junior library users the chance to win family tickets to see the new film version of children’s book Charlotte’s Web! All nine district libraries are running a Charlotte’s Web hide and seek competition for the next two weeks (February 19 – March 2).

Five animal characters from the film of E.B. White’s classic book are hiding in each of the Wokingham district’s libraries. To be in with a chance to win, children need to visit their local library and find all five characters. Competition entry forms are available in all libraries – just ask a member of staff. The competition closing date is March 2.

One winner at each library will receive a family pass to see Charlotte’s Web, kindly donated by Showcase Cinema in Winnersh.

Charlotte’s Web tells the story of a pig called Wilbur who makes friends with a spider called Charlotte. It was first published in 1952 and is one of the best-selling children’s books of all time. The new film version stars Julia Roberts as the voice of Charlotte and also features John Cleese as Samuel the Sheep and Oprah Winfrey as Gussy the Goose.

Elizabeth McDonald, Wokingham children’s librarian, said: “Charlotte’s Web is a timeless story of friendship, hope and self-belief. The new film is a wonderful opportunity for a new generation of children to discover this classic children’s book, which continues to be popular over 50 years after it was first published. This competition is a chance for children to have fun hunting for the hidden characters, and maybe win a prize, whilst also exploring their library and getting to know it better.”

Wokingham District Council

Less Is More by Sharon Honey is a de-cluttering and house-staging business based in Wokingham, Berkshire.

The Wokingham business, which is owned and run by Sharon Honey offers a professional and friendly service. Work is a pleasure and the business is passionate about home design and creating efficient organisation around the home.

The 'interest in our homes' industry has become part of nearly everyone's lives. The USA and other parts of the world have seen de-cluttering, house-staging and lifestyle management become increasingly popular. Like them, we in the UK are now seeing this business emerging steadily. We are busy people with a need for a few extra hours a day to get everything done!
Our homes are extremely important to us and we need to be able to relax and unwind in a space that feels comfortable. Whether you need to change a space you live in to enable you to enjoy the comfort of your home or whether you need to move to a new home, Less Is More can offer a solution. Less Is More offers a FREE 1 hour consulation with no obligation.

Contact details:

Mrs Sharon Honey (Consultant)
1A Park Road
Wokingham
Berkshire
RG40 2AH

Tel: 0118 9793460 / 07879 475588

Less Is More

For one year only, a new package of grants worth £48,000 is on offer to sports clubs across the Wokingham district. Cash is up for grabs under Wokingham District Council’s grant assistance scheme and clubs and organisations have this one and only opportunity to bid for up to £2,000.

The Wokingham council is reminding sporting clubs it is offering a grant assistance scheme and the money can be used for new or additional projects or anything that improves a current sporting programme such as training for sports coaches, recruiting volunteers, or purchasing equipment.

The grant assistance scheme aims to encourage greater access and participation in sporting activities, increase the skill and creativity of local sportsmen and women, encourage talent and raise standards in the sporting field. By improving sporting facilities, the council hopes to improve the quality of life and well-being of all those taking part in activities.

Executive member for community development Wokingham Cllr Dianne King said: “The district council recognises the importance many of our local voluntary and community sector groups play in our community. They provide a valuable service, often complementing services provided by the council and share the same community ambitions as we do. We are keen for established sports clubs to spread their knowledge and skills across the district.

“There are many sports clubs and organisations providing activities for people of all ages and this grant assistance scheme very much intends to support the development of clubs like them, many of which are run by dedicated volunteers.”

Bids will be welcomed from Wokingham not-for-profit sports clubs, who have constitutions and full accounts, from across the district and must be submitted to the district council by February 28. All projects must benefit the residents of the Wokingham district. Local clubs have already been sent copies of the application form and criteria.

Decisions will be reported to sporting clubs by March 23,and if successful, they will receive their grant at the beginning of the next financial year.

Guidance explaining the application process and the criteria that groups must meet to qualify for a grant as well as application forms are available on the council’s website (www.wokingham.gov.uk - leisure pages) or from Beverley Thompson, sports development manager, on (0118) 974 6254.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council has worked with Gorse Ride residents to make sure the proposed new Finchampstead community facility stays on track.

Some people living on the estate had been worried that the proposed facility, a joint project between Finchampstead Baptist Church (FBC), Wokingham District Council and Finchampstead Parish Council, could lead to the opening of Gorse Ride North and Gorse Ride South to through traffic.

But on Wednesday February 7 residents welcomed a solution to the problem presented to them by Wokingham council officers and the FBC at the Rides Community Hall.

Under the new plan, Gorse Ride North and Gorse Ride South would remain separated as they are currently and both roads would have access to the new centre. These access roads would lead to separate car parks in order to prevent any cars using the car park as a way of driving directly from Gorse Ride North to Gorse Ride South.

This solution would give access to the centre from both north and south without opening the road.

The two car parks would be separated by a system of bollards, which would remain closed except in exceptional circumstances, such as for special events when a large number of cars need to use the car parks. This solution allows flexible use of the car park to respond to changing demand at different times, but without creating a rat run, and has been successfully used elsewhere in the country. The entrances to the car parks would also have gates, which would be locked when the centre is closed. The proposal will also retain and enhance the existing pedestrian access through to California Country Park.

The community facility could, as well as being the Baptist church’s place of worship, include a sports hall, community meeting rooms, youth facilities, coffee bar, crèche, children’s centre and, if agreed, a library.

Executive member for Wokingham corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “This is a great opportunity to improve community facilities in Finchampstead and I look forward to working with the Baptist church, the parish council and all parties in the community to take it forward.”

And executive member for community development Wokingham Cllr Dianne King said: “I am pleased an acceptable solution has been found to allow this exciting project to progress.”

A questionnaire inviting feedback from local residents has been sent to about 4,000 homes in Finchampstead and a drop-in session to provide more information about the project will be held at California Ratepayers Hall from 12.30pm to 5pm on Saturday February 24. Information about the sport and community facilities could be on offer at the centre will be on display.

Wokingham District Council

Pedestrian crossings and speed limit reductions could be in place in the Wokingham district if Wokingham District Council’s decision-making executive backs them next week.

The Wokingham executive will be asked to approve a Puffin Crossing in Chalfont Way, Lower Earley and a Zebra Crossing in King Street Lane, near Bearwood Primary School, Winnersh, at its meeting on Thursday February 22, subject to funding.

The committee is also set to approve consultation on speed limit reductions on three of Wokingham District roads, Great Lea and Hartley Court, down to 40mph, and Wellingtonia Avenue, down to 50mph, all from 60mph.

Residents in both areas have called for the cuts in speed limits and Wokingham council has money to carry them out if the executive approves and a mandatory 21-day public consultation is positive.

Executive member for highways and transport Cllr Anthony Pollock said: “The district council takes its responsibility over road safety very seriously and will always look to make safety improvements where necessary.”

Wokingham District Council

Anyone wanting to read the range of views expressed by Wokingham district residents on proposals for future development can do so from February 12 when a summary and list of comments made will be available.

In autumn 2006 Wokingham council carried out an early consultation on issues and options for sites where development might take place in the future as well as proposed policies that might affect those sites, as part of its Local Development Framework process (LDF) - a series of documents that will guide development in the district from 2006 to 2026, replacing the current Local Plan.

Some 3,040 comments were received, of which 2,600 were presented by a group of Wokingham residents' associations and made similar points about development in the Wokingham area. A summary of what was said, along with a record of all the individual comments made, will be available on the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk from Monday February 12. Paper copies will also be available in the district’s libraries and Crowthorne library and at the council’s planning reception desk at its civic offices at Shute End, Wokingham. Alternatively, people can call the development plans team on (0118) 974 6478. The team can also answer any questions about the LDF process.

Executive member for local and regional planning Wokingham Cllr Gary Cowan said: “We collected these comments and views in the autumn last year and think it is important that we feed back the results of the consultation. Although the council is at this stage still analysing all of the responses, we want people to know that their views are important and will be taken into account.

“I’d also like to thank everyone who completed the survey or submitted comments. Knowing the views of our residents plays a vital role in allowing us to make informed decisions on this important subject.”

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council is backing a national Help the Aged campaign to cut out abuse of older people.

The Enough is Enough campaign was launched this week to call for better training in recognition and prevention of abuse for professionals working with older people and to raise awareness of the seriousness of the problem.

Wokingham District Council recognises that older people are sometimes harmed or mistreated or neglected by people they should be able to trust. Abuse may be physical or sexual, but can also take the form of psychological abuse such as threat of harm and humiliation, which are difficult to prove. Abuse may also include the neglect of a person’s medical or care needs, the withholding of food and even theft of a person’s money and possessions. Wokingham District Council investigates about 100 concerns about abuse each year.

All Wokingham District Council staff who work with older people and other vulnerable adults have training to prevent, recognise and report abuse. The council also works with partners such as the police and health authorities to provide training to all those who work with vulnerable people.

And Wokingham District Council has produced a leaflet, What you need to know about Adult Abuse, which is available in council offices, libraries and GP surgeries and information is available on the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk.

The council works with vulnerable people and their carers to ensure that people are as safe as possible in their own homes and in residential and nursing homes.

Wokingham council also works with health and care provider partners to ensure that they have training and support to recognise and report abuse when it happens. Working alongside the police, the Commission for Social Care

Inspection and the health service, the district council ensure that all allegations of abuse are investigated and that vulnerable people are protected.

Cllr Bob Wyatt, Wokingham council’s champion for older people, said: “Older people are some of the most vulnerable people in the community and we must do all we can to protect them. It is estimated that 500,000 older people are currently being abused in the UK and that is a shocking total that needs to be reduced. It is only right that Wokingham District Council should support Help the Aged’s Enough is Enough campaign.”

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council’s villages youth project have put together half term activities to encourage young people to pledge not to carry weapons. A mobile wall will be taken round to a variety of venues in the Wokingham district next week (February 12 to 16) and young people will be encouraged to sign the wall in memory of Damilola Taylor and pledge never to carry a weapon.

As part of the Wokingham youth services’ half-term activities they will also be taking part in football, basketball, street dance, street art and skateboard ramps.

Neighbourhood youth worker Louise Morris has organised the event. She said: “We are running a whole series of themed-events to challenge weapon carrying by young people and to raise awareness of the dangers of them. Whilst this is a serious topic, we also wanted to offer a whole range of fun activities for young people to take part in. The activities are open to everyone aged between 12 and 19 and have already created a lot of interest. I’m looking forward to it.”

Young people are invited to attend the Wokingham events, which are free of charge, at the following venues:

Monday February 12 between 11am and 3pm at Elizabeth Park, Barkham
Monday February 12 between 7pm and 9pm at Teeners Youth Cub, Pinewood Leisure Complex
Tuesday February13 between 11am and 3pm at the Rides Community Centre, Finchampstead
Tuesday February 13 between 7pm and 9pm at the Scout Hut, Woosehill
Wednesday February 14 between 11am and 3pm at Elizabeth Park, Barkham
Thursday February 15 between 11am and 3pm at Memorial Park, Finchampstead Village
Thursday February 15 between 7pm and 9pm at Arborfield Youth Club
Friday February 16 between 1pm and 3pm and 7pm and 8pm in Wokingham town centre

And, Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Angus Ross will be joining the young people at the wall on Friday February 16 at 1pm.

The pledge wall idea was developed by the parents of ten-year-old Damilola Taylor who tragically died after being stabbed and the wall is being rolled out across the country. All of the completed walls within the Wokingham district will be displayed at local youth centres and on the Damilola Taylor Trust website. The scheme forms also part of the Respect Your Life Not a Knife campaign which is supported by the Home Office and Youth Justice Board and aims to turn the tide on weapon carrying by young people.

Wokingham District Council

There is now a drastic shortage of supported lodgings in the Wokingham district for young people, who for one reason or another may have become homeless.

The problem has led Wokingham District Council’s supported lodgings co-ordinator Gabby Watts to undertake fresh promotion of the scheme whereby people with a spare room in their home get financial assistance and support from the council if they become carer to a homeless teenager.

Gabby said: “Surprisingly, common reasons for people not coming forward are anxiety that they won’t be good enough and fear of rejection, when in fact carers can come from all walks of life and are not stereotypical. Also, they might worry we don’t support the carer and give financial assistance, when in fact we do”.

Since its launch 18 years ago, the scheme has helped some 100 teenagers, but presently there are many young people who could benefit from a supportive environment.

Wokingham council would like to hear from people who are single or married, living in their own homes or renting. "Age, gender or race need not be barriers to providing a safe home for a young person to grow and develop into a competent, responsible adult. Past carers from the scheme have reported a high level of satisfaction from providing this type of lodgings and we are hoping many more will sign up to help in the future," said Gabby.

Winnersh residents Rita and Richard Barker, former supported lodgings carers, said: “Having been carers for nine and a half years, it has given us a lot of experience and understanding of how young people think and what their essential needs are. The carers need to be good role models and provide a structure with clear boundaries that young people understand because it’s not just about providing a home, it’s also about giving the young people a good listening ear and sound advice. It may sometimes seem like they’re not listening but they do respond later on. There are definitely occasions when you need a good sense of humour. Sometimes the young people will open their heart to you.

“You need to be quite a resilient person to be a carer but the rewards can often be more than you ever expected. Carers are provided with support from their link worker within the council and there is an out of hours service which would also give you support and advice if you need it.”

Heidi Dabrowski from Wokingham had lodgings thanks to this scheme and she said: “Going into supported lodgings was a bit scary but it’s changed my life. I got so much support in everything I chose to do. My carers taught me skills to be independent but also gave me a home that I felt welcome in and they always made me feel part of the family. They trusted me, which is such a big thing. With the trust, support and love that my carers gave me I now live independently which I don’t think I would have been able to do without that help.

“By giving a room in your house to a young person, you have not just accommodated them, you’ve given them a new lead to a happy and better life. I think that to know you’ve made someone’s life better, that is a true reward in itself.”

Carers receive payment from Wokingham council to cover the rent of the room and the cost of household expenses. To ensure the safety of the young lodger, home visits and statutory checks are made on the carer applicants.

The supported lodgings team is based at the children and young people’s resource team at 50, Reading Road, Wokingham and can be contacted on (0118) 979 3008 or via email at: youthresources@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham District Council

Delighted and happy to be under one roof was the message heard loud and clear from pupils at Keep Hatch Primary School in Wokingham on Thursday (February 1) when it was officially opened by Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Angus Ross.

Wokingham Cllr Ross was joined by a number of pupils, headteacher Angela Young, chair of governors Jacqueline Sumpster, building contractors Contract Trading Services (CTS) and the district council’s school development advisor Jim Mathieson, to cut a ribbon outside the new two-storey building before enjoying a tour of the school.

Back in 2003, Keep Hatch infant and junior schools were amalgamated to become an all-through primary school serving children aged from four to 11 years. Keen for all the current 299 pupils to be under one roof, the district council invested £2.5million in constructing the two-storey extension comprising an ICT suite, classrooms and large sports hall.

The former Wokingham junior school building was also refurbished and pupils can now enjoy their lessons in a newly-renovated music room, food technology room, kiln room and library to name just a few of the areas around the primary school. Construction work started in August 2005 and was completed in December 2006. Pupils were able to watch the building take shape every day whilst at school as well as outside school hours thanks to a live web-cam.

Headteacher Angela Young said: “We are all simply thrilled with our new building. On behalf of the school, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has been involved in the project. It’s wonderful to think that the local community will be able to enjoy and benefit from the improved learning facilities for many years to come.”

Chair of governors Jacqueline Sumpster added: “Since the build was completed, the staff has worked tirelessly to bring our new school to life, transforming an empty building into a welcoming, vibrant and stimulating learning environment.”

Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Angus Ross said: “It was a real pleasure to tour the school with the headteacher and a number of the pupils who were enthusiastic to show me around. Everyone has worked to enable the school to have first class facilities which already have a good feel.

“I recall seeing the plans of this new building several years ago and I am delighted to now see the project completed and the pupils are benefiting from improved classrooms and equipment. I wish everybody at school the very best for the future.”

Wokingham District Council

The seeds of new skills will be sown by students from Addington Special School on February 19 and 22 when they visit Growing Places Berkshire for special horticultural training days.

Registered charity Growing Places Berkshire, based at Turgis Court Farm, Hampshire, works with people who have a learning disability on projects to develop horticultural skills. Service users from Wokingham Resource and Opportunity Centre (WROC), a learning disability provision run by Wokingham District Council, have their own plots at the farm, and help to grow plants for sale. All money made on sales goes directly back into the project.

When the Wokingham Addington students visit this month to learn all about sowing seeds, WROC service users will work alongside Addington pupils for the day, under the supervision of teachers. In preparation they are now busy practising their skills at giving clear instructions, praising good work and being patient.

“Learning to share their skills and experience with Addington students is invaluable to our service users,” said horticultural therapist Margaret Larby. “They show great empathy with the Addington students. It will be an enormous confidence boost for them.”

And students from Addington Special School, Wokingham will be learning valuable lessons at the same time – horticultural skills that will enable them to plant seeds and learn all about the way flowers and vegetables grow, as well as the creative opportunities plants offer.

The horticultural therapy days follow the success of two similar days last February 2006, when students from Addington planted seeds which they then took back to school to nurture by themselves. They also received certificates of achievement in a presentation by the WROC service users who had worked with them. Students from Addington will be returning in March to learn about pricking out seedlings and potting on, and again in May and June to learn how to take cuttings.

Liz Meek, headteacher at Addington Special School, Wokingham said: “When our students visited Growing Places last year, the boost to their enthusiasm and motivation was very clear. Activities such as horticulture broaden their experiences and give them a vision of opportunities that may be available when they leave school.”

Executive member for social care and housing Wokingham Cllr Pauline Helliar Symons said: “It is really encouraging to see WROC service users, some of our most vulnerable residents, having an opportunity to take on responsibilities and demonstrate their skills. They are making a valuable contribution to other people’s growth and development, and learning new skills of their own at the same time. I do hope Addington and Growing Places can collaborate further in the future.”

Growing Places Berkshire will run the garden at the new Acorn Community Centre in Woosehill, Wokingham including a plant sales area near the Rainbow café.

“At the Acorn Community Centre we hope to have a mini garden centre and teach users retail skills. It’s very exciting,” said Margaret Larby. “But a lot of fundraising will be needed for our new projects. We need to raise £20,000 to build the greenhouse, which is an essential building if we are to really show the public what our gardeners can achieve and sell top quality produce.

“And, as we go on to this exciting new development we would like to recruit more volunteers. We would especially love to hear from anyone with skills in the propagation and care of plants, or in money handling and customer care, to work with our gardeners in the new garden centre.”

If you could help with fundraising for the greenhouse, or volunteer at Growing Places or the new Wokingham garden centre, please call (0118) 979 2588 and ask to speak to Margaret Larby, Julie Stevens or Margaret Gerrard.

Wokingham District Council

Parents and carers in the Wokingham district are being reminded that they have until February 9, 2007 to apply for infant and primary school places.

Parents of three and four-year-olds (born between September 1, 2002 and August 31, 2003) must apply to Wokingham District Council for a place if their child is due to start at school from September 2007, January 2008 or April 2008. Children will still start in either the autumn, spring or summer term, depending on when their birthday falls but there is only one closing date each year for applications.

The council operates an equal preference scheme which means parents and carers can express a preference for up to three infant or primary schools. However, if parents are applying to an aided or foundation school, they may need to complete the school’s own supplementary information form and return it to the council or school. Everyone applying for an infant, primary or junior school place in the Wokingham district will receive a single offer on the same day (March 30, 2007).

Application forms, with supporting information, were sent to parents and carers from November 2006. However, if parents or carers of eligible children have not received application forms, they should contact the school admissions team at Wokingham District Council on (0118) 974 6245, or 974 6146. Starting school applications can also be made online at www.wokingham.gov.uk/admissions.

Sue Riddick, school admissions team, said: “With only just over a week to go to get application forms in for infant and primary school places, it’s vitally important that parents and carers don’t miss the final deadline of February 9, 2007.

“The school admissions team are here to help, and if you have not received an information pack and application form, please contact us immediately.”

The scheme aims to ensure that parents are treated fairly and consistently. All preferences are treated on an equal basis taking into account the admissions criteria. Where there is the potential to offer a place at more than one school, parents will be offered the school they have ranked highest.

The application process also applies to pupils transferring from infant to junior school to start in September 2007 and their parents and carers must apply in the same way by the deadline of February 9, 2007 using the application form provided by infant schools.

Wokingham District Council

‘Do we want to be more actively involved in managing our housing service?’ That’s what tenant representatives are asking after they indicated to Wokingham District Council that they would like to explore the idea of tenant management. And so, through independent advisers Solon, tenant representatives are asking all tenants and leaseholders to get involved in finding out about Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs).

A TMO allows tenants to take responsibility for the day-to-day management and repair of their homes and estates. Wokingham council would remain the landlord and tenants would retain their secure tenancy. In the Wokingham district, tenants already get involved in the housing service through their tenant representatives, residents’ associations, tenants’ monitoring board and Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGs). A TMO would extend this involvement to a formal management agreement between the council and a TMO.

Executive member for Wokingham social care and housing Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons said: “This is something that our tenant representatives have said they would like to explore further, so we are supporting them as they ask fellow tenants and leaseholders for their views and input. Supported by their own independent advisors, tenants are setting up a steering group to look at the issue and are asking others to join them.”

Every Wokingham tenant and leaseholder is being sent a newsletter by Solon, outlining what a TMO is, what its responsibilities might be and what steps are involved should tenants decide that they would like to pursue the idea.

“We are very much looking for tenants to say how far they would like to pursue this idea. Tenant representatives have told us that they would like to learn more about what it could involve and we will be interested to hear how they would like to proceed,” said Cllr Helliar-Symons.

Tenants or leaseholders wanting to find out more are invited to the following meetings:

# Luckley Oakfield School, Wokingham Tuesday February 13 at 7pm

# Rainbow Community Centre, Winnersh Thursday February 15 at 7.30pm

# Gorse Ride Residents’ Association, St Mary’s and St John’s Parish Rooms, Finchampstead Tuesday February 20 at 7.30pm

# Whiteknights County Primary School, Shinfield Wednesday February 21 at 7pm

# Shinfield Parish Hall, Shinfield Wednesday February 28 at 7pm

# Palmer School, Wokingham Monday March 5 at 7pm

# Loddon Hall (The Annex), Twyford Monday March 12 at 7pm

# Woodley Residents’ Meeting, Crescent House, Woodley Tuesday March 13 at 6pm

# Woodclyffe Hall, High Street, Wargrave Saturday March 31 at 11am

Tenants are also being invited to join a trip to visit other TMOs in London on Saturday February 24.

Responsibilities that could be taken on by a TMO include day-to-day repairs and maintenance; cleaning and caretaking; collecting rents; letting homes to new tenants; ensuring tenants are consulted and kept informed; employing staff to deliver the service and managing budgets for these services. It is up to each TMO to decide what it would like to cover. It could be possible to start off with some areas and expand into others as the TMO progresses.

The initial stage of the process (known as the promotion stage and covering the formation of the steering group, meetings and events to gather tenants’ views and visits to other TMOs) is expected to take until May 2007. At this stage, Wokingham tenants will decide whether to pursue the idea any further.

Anyone wanting more information, or to book a place on the trip to the TMOs in London, can call Áine or Jane at Solon on 0800 169 4406.

Wokingham District Council

They were rolling in the aisles at Wokingham Library when the finest young jokesters in the district told their best gags.

The winners of a children’s joke competition held at all the Wokingham district’s libraries last November received their prizes and got to tell their winning entries on Saturday January 27.

There were two prize winners for the funniest jokes from each of the libraries, one for five to eight year olds and another for nine to 11 year olds. Each winner was given a £5 gift voucher donated by children’s bookshop Chapter One in Denmark Street, Wokingham.

The prizes were handed over by Wokingham District Council chairman Cllr Angus Ross and Mary Baker, who owns Chapter One with her husband John.

Cllr Ross said: “All the jokes were well told and all the children spoke confidently and clearly. I very much enjoyed hearing them and helping to present the prizes. It was great seeing the children enjoying themselves at the library. I would like to thank Chapter One for donating the vouchers and the library staff for organising the event.”

Wokingham District Council

Just as those worthy new year’s intentions are fading Wokingham District Council’s libraries are giving residents the chance to do their brains and bodies a favour throughout February.

The district council’s library service has teamed up with The Complementary Therapy Clinic Wokingham in Denmark Street, Wokingham to get people thinking about their health – and doing something about it.

Anybody joining any of the Wokingham district’s libraries in February will get a £5 voucher towards treatments or products at the clinic. And all the clinic’s customers during the month will get a flyer entitling them to two free DVD rentals if they join a district library.

All district libraries will be offering free bookmarks explaining where health related books are found in the library.

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for Wokingham community development, said: “This is a great campaign to encourage people in the Wokingham district to stay healthy and to use our libraries. I hope as many people as possible will make use of it.”

There will also be a series of free demonstrations, tasters and drop-in sessions about complementary health courtesy of The Complementary Therapy Clinic Wokingham. These will be:

# Introduction to complementary therapy: Wokingham Library, 10am-4pm, Saturday February 3; Woodley Library, 5pm-7pm, Monday February 5; Lower Earley Library, 4pm-6pm, Thursday February 8; Winnersh Library, 6pm-8pm, Tuesday February 20

# Nutrition advice: Wokingham Library, 10am-12noon, Saturday February 3; Winnersh Library, 6pm-8pm, Tuesday February 20

# Craniosacral therapy and reiki: Wokingham Library, 10am-12noon, Thursday February 1 / Tuesday February 20 / Tuesday February 27

# Reflexology taster: Wokingham Library, 10am-12noon, Monday February 5 / Monday February 19

# Acupuncture: Wokingham Library, 11am-12noon, every Wednesday in February

# Baby massage: Wokingham Library, 10am-12noon, Thursday February 8

# Seated acupressure massage taster: Wokingham Library, 10am-12noon, Saturday February 10 / Thursday February 22; Lower Earley Library, 4pm-6pm, Thursday February 8; Winnersh Library, 6pm-8pm, Tuesday February 20

# Complementary therapy for children: Wokingham Library, 10am-12noon, Thursday February 15; Wokingham Library, 2pm-4pm, Thursday February 15

# Reiki and head massage: Woodley Library, 9am-1pm, Tuesday February 20; Wokingham Library, 9.30am-1pm, Saturday February 24

All events are free to attend. No booking is required – drop in at any time during the session.

Wokingham District Council

Team work kept the Wokingham district moving during the recent storms – as council staff and contractors combined to clear more than 160 fallen trees from roads.

Wokingham District Council’s environment services received 655 calls and visited 175 sites on Thursday January 18, during which every major road in the Wokingham district was blocked at one time or another.

All the staff in the tree and landscape and environment services team took part in the clean up and were joined by other council officers and contractors in the effort.

And, despite the huge number of calls, the team managed to keep the traffic moving as well as possible and also helped emergency services to free people who had been trapped by trees falling on their cars.

Some grateful residents have since contacted the environment services team to thank them for their efforts.

Jon Matthews, senior arboriculturalist at Wokingham District Council, said: “It was a phenomenal effort from all concerned to keep the roads as clear as possible. All the main roads in the Wokingham district were blocked by falling trees at one point or another, some of them more than once.

“One of the worst problem we had to deal with was in Barkham Road, where two huge oak trees fell across the road; the contractors had only just got back from clearing one when they had a call to say another had come down.

“All round it was a great team effort, with everybody putting in extra hours to help deal with the situation. Our contractors were fantastic, some of them did not finish until the early hours of Friday.”

Since then the emergency the environment services team has continued to clear fallen branches and vegetation from highways.

And the fallen Wokingham wood will not be wasted; residents have already cleared some of the timber left at roadsides to use as firewood and the rest will be taken to Dinton Pastures Country Park where it will be recycled as wood chips, planks or wood for benches. Wood chippings produced from the fallen trees will also be sold at the country park.

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham corporate services, said: “Congratulations to everybody involved in this emergency operation. It is good to know we have a team of staff and contractors willing and able to rally round in a situation like this and help keep the Wokingham district moving when severe weather strikes.”

Wokingham District Council

Two schools from the Wokingham district have joined an elite club for improving specialist schools.

The Bulmershe School in Chequers Way, Woodley, and St Crispin’s School in London Road, Wokingham, have both earned a place in the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust’s Most Improved Club thanks to their GCSE grade improvements.

The club is reserved for specialist schools that achieved a 10 per cent improvement in the percentage of pupils getting five A* to C GCSEs from 2003 to 2006. The Bulmershe School’s performance has improved from 48 per cent in 2003 to 59 per cent in 2006 and St Crispin’s has improved from 55 per cent to 71 per cent in the same period.

The Bulmershe School headteacher Peter Lewis said: ”We are delighted to be making sustained improvement at The Bulmershe School and for this improvement to be recognised by the trust. The improvement is down to the hard work of the pupils, the high quality support and teaching of the teaching staff and the ongoing support of the parents to see the children achieve good grades.

“Being a specialist sports school means that we have a particular focus on developing sports and raising standards in physical education but the extra funding we have available as a specialist school has helped us improve facilities across the school.”

St Crispin’s School headteacher Alex Biddle said: “It is nice to be recognised in this way. The thing to remember with the most improved club is that one should not assume that the schools were doing badly before; we were in a strong position in 2003.

“But we are still not satisfied with what we have achieved and have set a target of 77 per cent A* to C grades for our Year 10 pupils.

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “I would like to congratulate both these specialist schools on their achievement, which is down to the hard work of pupils, staff and governors and the support of parents. This is a terrific achievement and deserves special recognition.”

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) is a national body, part funded by the government, set up to support and advise specialist schools and to encourage all schools in the country to gain specialist status.

David Crossley, director of achievement networks at the SSAT, said: "The trust’s Most Improved Schools Club provides recognition for those schools that have shown continual improvement in GCSE results over a three year period. It is an excellent achievement and it is important we celebrate these schools that are raising standards and giving more students the opportunity to achieve their full potential."

A representative from each Wokingham school has been invited to a Most Improved Club dinner to celebrate their membership at the Hotel Russell, Russell Square, London on Tuesday February 27.

Wokingham District Council