Parents feel ‘conned’ after the opening of a new primary school in south Reading was delayed by a year.

Anna Comerford and her partner bought a home at the Green Park Village development two years ago, having been assured that the school would open in September 2019 – subject to planning approval.

Planning permission for Green Park Village Academy was granted in June 2018, with Reach2 Academy appointed to run the school.

Ms Comerford discovered that the 420-student school would now be opening in September 2020 in a ‘recommend a friend’ letter from Green Park Village developer St Edward arrived on November 21.

She said: “Frankly we, the residents, feel conned as would have not bought places in Green Park if we were told the truth.

“For two years the council and Berkeley [who co-own St. Edward with Prudential Assurance Company] have been making promises.

“Planning permission was granted and an academy trust appointed so we had no reason to think the school would not open.

“Residents here are shocked by the false advertising we have been subjected to as well as the fact Berkeley didn’t have the courtesy to properly inform us of this fact.”

“If Green Park does benefit from a primary school in the future it will be too late for our children to attend.”

A spokesman for Reach2 said the setback was due to delays in the start of construction.

The company is working with Reading Borough Council (RBC), St. Edward and the Department for Education ‘to ensure that Green Park benefits from a new school for local families’.

A spokesman for St. Edward said: “We understand how frustrating this must be for parents of prospective pupils and apologise for any confusion caused.

“Due to the uncertainty of the actual build start date, we have always stated that the proposed opening date of the school is an estimate.

“We can confirm that the final contract is due to be signed later this month which will enable us to give the ‘green light’ to our build contractor to starts works.”

The new school was secured as part of a planning agreement with developers, St Edwards, with additional funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency and RBC.

A Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) spokesman added: “We have contacted the seven parents who had chosen the school to inform them that their other school preferences will now replace Green Park Village Primary and that they may add further options.

BFfC is a new independent, not-for-profit company wholly-owned by Reading Borough Council established to deliver Children’s Services for Reading.