Page 5 - link magazine

FRESHBROOK & GRANGE PARK 5
Children help other children
GRANGE PARK
NEEDS A BIGGER
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Eileen Sawyer, experienced
teacher a mother of a one year
old from Grange Park, says
Wiltshire County Council
should reconsider its plans and
calls for action by parents to
persuade them.
All present and future parents in
Grange Park with children of pri-
mary school age should know
now that the proposed new pri-
mary school for this area will be
too small to take all Grange Park
children adequately.
Yet another overcrowded
small school, on a small site, lit-
tered with mobile classrooms
will appear in West Swindon.
This school is due to open in
1990 on a site off Hay Lane and
Grange Park Way, near the en-
trance to Lydiard Park.
Grange Park Primary School is
planned to accommodate 239
children in 7 classrooms. From Freshbrook Community Centre
my research, helped by Playgroup held a harvest gather- Facechoice Pharmacy
Freshbrook Councillor Bob ing 5th October and following
Pixton, it is certain that Grange entertainment for parents by the Freshbrook Village Centre
Park needs a larger school. A children, donated items were Tel: 870226
realistic size would be a school of auctioned.
10 classrooms accommodating at The total, along with the pro- Opening Monday to Friday 9am - 1pm;
least 300 children. A school the ceeds of a raffle, came to £130. 2.l5pm - 7pm
same size as Westlea Primary On 14th October the children Times:
Saturday 9am - 12.30pm
School is needed. and staff presented a cheque to
How do we know this? There Mollie Tanner, Appeals Director
are approximately 2,000 houses for the Great Ormond Street
in Grange Park. The type of Hospital for Sick Children in the Open 7 days a week
BASSETT Radio Controlled 24 Hr.
housing will always attract Thamesdown area, (pictured
young and growing families. above) TYRES Tyre Breakdown Service
The birthrate in West Swindon at "We all thought our children
present is close to being double could help other children in
the national average birth rate. need," said joint playgroup
Even on just national average supervisor Brenda Grove.
figures the proposed school size
could easily have a shortfall of at and learning become far more
least 60 places each year. difficult in cramped conditions.
Wiltshire County Council Grange Park children have
would try to accommodate extra only one precious chance to be
children in the usual way by put- educated. They need a school
ting mobile classrooms on an al- which is a realistic and adequate
ready small site. size for the growing population
Expanding small schools has of the present and future. We
many problems. As a former pri- await news from County Hall
mary school teacher, and as a about the new school. We be-
parent, I do realise how the qual- lieve land is still available for
ity of education suffers in an purchase on the proposed site. A
overcrowded school and in What can parents in Grange
mobile classrooms. Park do?
Mobiles on a small site can Previous parental action pres-
eventually take up play/sport sured the County Council to soza a,
a,
areas. Playgrounds become move the site of the proposed 1 l Off
overcrowded by overlarge in- school from the original, unsafe
111)01
takes of children. The assembly site, off Hook Road. Parents need
hail and dining areas become too to express their views again.
small to cope, lunches end up Could you volunteer to collect
being eaten in classrooms. names on a petition? We would
Above all, mobile classrooms very much appreciate your help Unit 7 Templars Way io
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never have all the facilities and to fight for a better school now: Industrial Estate, Marlborough Rd., I Add
spaces that a good modern pri- We need a team of volunteers. Wootton Bassett, Wilts. SN4 7EJ.
mary classroom should have. Please contact me on 873018 for Telephone: (0793) 854771 (Eve. 850514)
Good primary school teaching details. We need your help.