Page 13 - link magazine

EDUCATION MATTERS 13
New headteacher for 'village' school

Four years ago Philip Gurney was the headteacher of a village school near Wantage with only 50 children
in it. Now he is head of a 'village' school with over 700. However after only a few weeks as headteacher
of Freshbrook School, he is quite clear that he made the right choice to take on the challenge.
"I've been head most recently at know every child and to meet their
Yamton, north of Oxford, with 200 parents but we're getting ready for ace.nac€
children, soyou could say l'vebeen next term, meeting new parents, 11
working up to a big school," said interviewing staff and ordering
Phillip. "I'd never seen an materials." HAVE A LACE
advertisement for such a large After nine years of rapid growth, PARTY
school and my first thought was of Mr Gurney is aware that changes
sheer wonder of what it would be will take place when the Grange Easy, profitable and
like to work in. On receiving more Park school opens next year. fun. See our New
information I became very excited. Managing the possible shrinkage
"On paper, the style and in size will have to be prepared for. Spring Ranges of
approach to educating children For the future, he intends to build • Lace & Satin
established at Freshbrook was on the good work that has gone on
similar to my own. Using the topic before. Developing closer links Tableclothes
approach to link different subjects with local playgroups and with • Austrian
secondary schools and keeping in
together, the simple recognition Constructive education. Phillip Gurney Flounce Curtains
that children are the most important with Adam Garden, Andrew Brogden touch with parents with regard to
part of a school, the values which and Claire Young developments in primary NEW LINE FOR
are held as important such as caring by children and staff. The teachers education are things he wants to
for each other and ourenvironment. and my two deputies have been do. Updating and increasing the SPRING
Taking on the task of leading a taking the strain and have been number of computers in the school Lace bed spreads
large team of teachers at an guiding me through the early on the one hand and increasing
established school and keeping a period. interest in music amongst children & canopies
clear head with regard to all the "It really doesn't feel like the on the other are also targets. BOOK YOUR
changes in education, including the 'huge' school everybody refers to. As a violin and viola player and
introduction of the national There's a sense of calm dedication teacher, and conductor of Oxford's PARTY NOW!
curriculum and taking on local to doing good work and a sense of Isis Chamber Orchestra, his ability For more details
financial management, is a pride in the school, from children in the musical field is considerable.
considerable responsibility. But and teachers through to cleaning Phillip presently lives in telephone
Phillip believes he's receiving staff who arrive after everybody Woodstock but is hoping to move John or Prue Hardie
gentle treatment from everybody. has gone home. closer to Swindon with his teacher (0793) 762143
"I've been very warmly welcomed "Obviously it takes time to get to wife Joyce and two Sons.

Top authors visit book event
Tim Noble reports on Greend own School's first ever Book Week.
Normal lessons in Humanities and journalist who is also the Wiltshire
Communication were suspended, Multi-Cultural Advisor.
Through the week, Peter
as visiting writers and storytellers
came to the school to entertain and Kempadoo was in the school. He's
inspire the students. Every class in a hard man to sum up: writer,
the school had at least two sessions journalist, environmentalist,
with a visitor, and students are now educator, Quaker and follower of Ballgowns
busily preparing entries for a Ghandi, he was raised on a sugar
writing competition.
plantation in Guyana and has since
The visitors were an extremely travelled the world. He and his for hire or sale
varied bunch. There were novelists wife educated all their nine children
like Philip Pullman, whose 'How at home. He had students making 32 Victoria Road, Swindon
to be Cool' was recently seen on friends with trees, and thinking
TV, Beverly Naidoo, whose novels about how our economy and way C6693875
about South Africa are studied by of life is intimately linked to the
Greendown pupils, and Jan Mark, rest of the world's.
one of the most widely-read and On Thursday, Pomme Clayton,
popular of all children's writers, a professional story-teller, visited Have A Great Party!
There were poets: Judith Nicholls, the school. First and second year
already popular among many pupils enjoyed stories from many Hire our Mini-Clown
students from her visits to local parts of the world told in Pomme's
primary schools and David Orme engrossing way. An evening event Bouncer. 10'x10'
(alias Mango Chutney) whose was held for parents where pupils inflatable with rain
collection entitled 'Toughie Toffee' told stories, and performed or read
is a firm favourite at the school. their own or some of the visitors' cover. Ideal for
There was Robert Crowther, the poems. Pomme finished off the children's parties,
designer of marvelously ingenious evening with an inspired candle-lit
pop-up books, who let the second session of stories, including one a pre-school groups, fetes
years into a few of his secrets. spooky one which had the audience etc Indoors & Outdoors
More local visitors included Jan gasping when the devil appeared!
Chambers of Shaw Ridge Primary Greendown would like to thank To book, ring West Swindon's
School, Pat D'Arcy, a writer on SouthemArts,TheCommonwealth
education and the Wiltshire English Institute and WI-I Smith for their
Advisor, and Faysal Mikdadi, a help in arranging a memorable ACE FUN CASTLES on 873552
novelist, short-story writer and week.
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