A NEW school in Wokingham is having to delay its opening date until 2022 due to coronavirus concerns, says the council.

The Wokingham Borough Council announced earlier today that construction work on Matthewsgreen Primary School, Matthewsgreen, Wokingham, will not resume completion until after the new school year starts in September 2021, due to concerns over "a range of risks to children and their education".

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It was explained that in order for completion to be made in time for 2021, contractors would have to be on-site at the same time as students, and due to the pandemic it was decided that it would be unsafe for this to take place.

The school opening has therefore been agreed to be delayed until 2022, after a review was held by the WBC and the Keys Academy Trust, the organisation which will be running the school.

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Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services, said: “We’re lucky to have excellent primary schools across the borough which will be able to provide a place close to home for children in the area near the Matthewsgreen site.

“Though it was a difficult choice it is better to know for certain children will be on a safe site where construction work is not ongoing.

"I look forward to seeing progress on construction at Matthewsgreen continuing ahead of it being due to open next year."

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The council added there would be no impact on places in local schools for children living in the area, with places available at other nearby schools.

Hester Wooller, chief executive at The Keys Academy Trust, added: “The Keys Academy Trust has been working closely with the council and the contractors during the last year.

"We are delighted to have the opening date of September 2022 confirmed and we will be launching the school's website with information about the school and inviting prospective parents to a series of open events in the summer and autumn terms later in 2021."

For more information, visit wokingham.gov.uk/news/matthewsgreen-primary-school-opening-delayed/.