Page 14 - link magazine

EDUCATION MATTERS
14
sufficiency, self-motivation and
Headteacher departs for London self-discipline. Those are the values
we started out with and they've
Mrs Marjorie Broadhead, one of West Swindon's longest serving been with us ever since."
headteachers, at Freshbrook School, will be moving on to a high po we red job Whenever a headteacher moves
in inner London later this month. Before she departs on 23 rd March, we took on from a school, there are lots of
the opportunity to talk to her about the memories she will be taking with her. memories. For Mrs Broadhead, the
occasions when the school 'family'
Remembering to call Mrs after opening the numbers peaked have been together are the
Broadhead by her new name has at 815 children, on a site designed strongest.
been proving quite difficult for most for 500. "There was a hot summers day
people and she admits that she In fact many more children had when we had our first Teddy Bear's
hasn't quite got used to it herself. passed through the school Picnic and the school field was
For the last 9 years she has been according to Mrs Broadhead. 'The covered in children, parents, grand-
known to much of the West large movement of people both in parents and relations. It was lovely
Swindon community as Mrs and also out of the area was to see so many people together.
Barker. Just before Christmas she surprising. During our first five "On another occasion all of us
married and changed her name to years 1,150 children had attended travelled on a fleet of coaches to
Mrs Broadhead. Freshbrook, people were arriving Westonbirt Arboretum to see the
As one of the area's head- from all over the country and the autumn colours in the trees. There
teachers, Mrs Broadhead has been whole world. resources and more staff which we have been some really good
in a unique position to make a "Our numbers are a more have been able to deploy in a way occasions in school involving
fundamental contribution to the manageable 700 now." which has benefitted the children. parents and staff in community
development of the community and Whilst the enormous numbers Freshbrook School was always sing-song evenings, and then there
also to observe the way it has of children have put great pressure going to be big and I would say the was the staff and parents fancy
evolved over the years. on local schools, Mrs Broadhead advantages of size has outweighed dress football matches.
Freshbrook School started after wanted to emphasise the the disadvantages in our situation. "I will also remember the staff
Easter 1981 in spare classrooms at importance of what has been going "Education has been changing team spirit here. Teachers have
Oliver Tornkins School with 42 on inside them. "Much of the media rapidly and certainly devel- come and gone, but there's always
children. It moved into its own attention over the years has been opments such as the introduction been a caring, helpful and
building on 1St June, three years focused on the numbers and the of the National Curriculum has supportive atmosphere which has
after the first people moved into siting of mobile classrooms, but served to enhance the good practice created a wonderul framework in
Turnham Green, the first road in perhaps there hasn't been a great that we've been developing at which to teach children.
Freshbrook to be completed. deal of attention paid to the quality Freshbrook. "On the down side, I and
Within 18 months the numbers of education that has been taking Mrs Broadhead commented on everybody else have been
had outgrown the school and the place within schools and the efforts the rapid evolution of the area. dismayed by the vandalism that
first of many mobile classrooms made to develop a sense of "Knowing the area would have so takes place to school buildings.
had arrived. The opening of a community with the children. many houses is one thing; looking Another thing that has dis-
second permanent building, in "Big is not necessarily bad. backoverjusta few yearsand seeing appointed me has been the lack of
1984, relieved the pressure on the Having large numbers of children buildings where only recently there parental interest in matters to do
facilities. However just five years has meant we have had more were green fields is an eye opener. with the education of their own
"When the school opened children. The sessions we've
Worsley Road was being completed arranged about, for example,
and you could only get to the school reading, maths and particularly the
site on the long footpath from National Curriculumhave not been
Crawford Close, past the old well attended. We see the same
wooden ommunity centre. The people so often and it concerns me
Village Centre and shops were not that there aren't enough parents
finished until the end of 1981. interested enough to learn about
"At first it was such a rootless what will affect their children."
society, but people came out and Mrs Broadhead is leaving
got involved with the Freshbrook Freshbrook School to be a Primary
Village Group residents Inspector for the new City of
organisation, for example, and the Westminster Education Authority
Fun Day committee, the Friendship which is being created out the
Club for pensioners and several defunct Inner London Education
groups for under 5's. Those people Authority. There she will be putting
So where has talent, ambition and perhaps forget that they her experience gained before
contributed a great deal to the coming to West Swindon when she
hard work got you so far? foundations of Freshbrook. They was headteacher of two multi-
were putting life into the ethnic inner city schools in the West
It happens to the best people. No experience necessary
No matter how much effort and community. Midlands, and those gained in
talent you put into your job, no one How much will you earn' Its up "Freshbrook is a much more Freshbrook, to good effect.
to you Last year over 750 of our
seems to notice it. Let alone
Sales Associates earned in excess stable place now. The school has "It's exciting joining a new team
reward it. Not so at Allied Dunbar
of £22,000. And many of them had
Assurance. A company where good helped that process and has also working for a new education
no previous selling experience. Far
people get promoted and enjoy more important than age sex and benefited. It's important for authority which aims to promote
the rich rewards that come with
background, and even education
good results are the qualities of determination, children to have a stable, warm first class primary school practice.
We are Britain's largest unit- and caring place in which to learn. It's been a 20 hour a day job at
drive and enthusiasm. If you think
linked insurance company.
you could succeed as a Sales Although there are over 700 Freshbrookat times, and I've never
You'll deal with a wide product
range which helps people with Associate, phone children and adults on the site, you worked so hard, but then I've never
Mike Conlan on (0793) S1278
their future financial security. You'll Allied Dunbar Assurance plc.
receive top class training and the wouldn't think it because there is a enjoyed myself so much; I'd like to
backing of the finest dedicated atmosphere and staff thank the children, the staff and the
administration
work hard to maintain a small people living in the Freshbrook
Working for yourself school environment. community for making my time
At Allied Dunbar you'll be self "It was an honour to be chosen here the happiest nine years of my
employed So your rewards are ALLIED
directly related to your efforts. as one of the Wiltshire primary career."
Naturally. It takes ambition, sell- DIJNBAR schools to be visited by Kenneth
motivation and drive to respond to Baker in 1986, when he was The new headteacher, who will
this challenge, but for once you'll
be paid what you are worth Secretary of State for Education. I be taking up post after Easter, is to
III 'Its( i\\I I I\\\( I SI ti 11) %',( I
remember him taking note of the be Mr Phillip Gurney who comes
ethos behind this school; self- from Oxfordshire.