Protesters say there is no need for additional school places at St Mary’s Church of England Primary School and argue an extra class would only reduce the already limited play area and cause more congestion on the roads.

However the chairman of Winkfield Parish Council, Geoff Paxton, said: “All the research suggests that the school does need extra capacity.” The application for an extra classroom and expanded car parking was submitted on January 6 this year after a previous plan was withdrawn at the end of December 2014.

In a letter, parent Natalie Spring-Rice said the school accepted pupils from nearby Warfield and Bracknell as it already struggled to fill it’s reception class. She said: “I cannot understand why instead of providing an additional classroom in an area where school places are required there is a proposal to place an additional classroom in Winkfield Row where there has been no housing built in recent years and the demographic trends do not support the need.

“The school site has the smallest outdoor space of any school in Bracknell Forest...inside, the Victorian school hall struggles to accommodate the existing number of children at assembly time and lunch time - There is no room for additional children at this school.” A consultation on Monday offered parents and residents the chance to view the revised plans, but fears over road safety and pressures on the school building remain.

A spokesman for Atkins, the company designing the plan, said it had support from Winkfield Parish Council to expand car parking in nearby King George’s Recreation Ground. Cllr Gareth Barnard, Bracknell Forest Council’s lead member for children’s services, said: “I understand it has been a contentious issue but it’s now up to the school headteacher and governors to decide whether it is right for the school and for planning committee to decide whether the application takes account of the traffic and other issues.” Cranbourne Primary and Meadow Vale are also earmarked for an additional 30 places. The council estimates the number of primary school pupils will increase by 22% by 2019 and want to address the shortfall in places.