THE number of pupils starting school in Bracknell will soar by 23 per cent over the next four years, the fourth highest increase in an area outside London. 

It's anticipated 2,208 more children will be starting primary school in the 2018/19 academic year than started in 2013/14, leaving Bracknell Forest Council having to tackle a shortfall in the number of available places. 

The figure is the fourth biggest increase in the country, beaten only by Bristol and Manchester in third and second place, and Reading where pupil numbers are expected to rocket by 34 per cent. 

It's thought Bracknell Forest will need an additional 74 extra classrooms in order to cope with the increased demand according to analysis by Scape, a public sector building specialist, but the council say they have been anticipating the increase and have already acted to increase capacity. 

There is currently a consultation open to parents and residents over changes to school's designated area and admissions and Cllr Gareth Barnard, the executive member for children, young people and learning, confirmed the council were aware of the 'scale of the issue'. 

He said: "Without wanting to sound complacent, we have been planning for this increase for a long time and the reason we are running a consultation over the changes to designated areas is to make sure we have a place for all children in our schools.

"We have ambitious plans to expand our schools and we absolutely recognise that there is pressure on school places. It's not a surprise, we are aware of this, we are planning for it and we will deliver additional spaces and new schools. We're doing our best and we recognise the scale of the issue. 

"We do have a good track record of predicting pupil places and we had to make some controversial decisions over things like Blue Mountain but it's important so that we can do all we can."

There are plans to build new schools on land at Amen Corner in Binfield, North Warfield and the Transport Research Laboratory in Crowthorne. 

Plans to build a learning village on land Blue Mountain Golf Course have sparked fierce objections, but the council say it is necessary in order to prepare for the influx of new families who will move to the area. 

A number of surge classrooms and school extensions are also planned.

Simon Reid, head of Scape design, said councils should consider how to tackle the problem when the influx of children reach secondary school.

He said: "Some constituencies will see an increase in pupil numbers of up to a third, and others will need to create hundreds of new classrooms in just a few years’ time. Already parents struggle to get their children into their preferred schools and the crisis in school places will only increase if councils don’t act now to increase capacity.

"As the extra pupils at primary level move towards secondary school, there will be increasing pressure on local authorities to deliver extra secondary school buildings, which are much larger and require extra facilities."