Page 11 - link magazine

11
School 'transformed' M. A. TOOGOO
after HMI hammering SOFTWATER CENTRE, WOOTON BASSETT
Come and see our full range of Water Softeners including the
West Swindon's secondary school, Greendown, is said to have been AQUADIAL, DOMEXTRA, EURO, OAKLANDS, PERMUTIT
'transformed' since an inspection by a team of Her Majesty's Inspectors Also Available: Granular, Tablet, P.V.D. Salt
eight months ago.
All at Unit 4, Oaklands Enterprise Estate, Braydon, Nr. Wootton
The comment was made by the Bassett. Open Saturdays ONLY 9.30am - 4pm. OR
inspecting team leader who revis- Ring Swindon 853156 for further information or appointment.
ited the school in the week before
half term to monitor the changes
brought into place after verbal re- E. H0DGE CARPENTER & JOINER
ports to the school's management
team and the Governors in March. WooD, STEEL AND P.V.C. Doois AND WINDOWS
The highly critical report of the
weeklong inspection was published SeI'l'UED AND FITTED. KITCHENS, WARDROBES,
on 10 November. Although there- PoIcuLs ETC. SEculury Locis. No VAT
port commends 'a young and hard .
working staff who are well quali- 30 YEARS IN TRADE. TEL: (0793) 6410571 1
fied and devote time and effort to
the pupils and the school,' it is criti- V
cal of the school's management, or- THE VALET SERVICE
ganisation and timetable which were Ihhlip FOR YOUR HOME
not, at the time of inspection, well
suited to deliver the National Cur- Stcne
riculum.
Up to 60% of observed lessons Show success: Greendown pupils I'iiinter & DECORATING
were regarded as satisfactoiyorbet- entertained enthusiastic sell-out INSIDE OR OUT
ter, but the remainder were unsatis- audiences at performances of 'A 1ec4ratcr SPECIAL RATES FOR
factory, showing inadequate plan- Musical Extra-vaganza' during early PENSIONERS
fling and lacking pace and rigour in November. The original work devised For a high standard of
theirdelivery. Expectionof students by art teacher Samantha Gee and work with references
was also poor. The lack of clearly music teacher Andre Pysanczyn available Call Decor Valet
identified school aims and policies, involved 25 students singing and
and poor monitoring of pupil acting numbers from Broadway hits, Telephone now for a for a Free Estimate
progress was also criticised. through to Grease, with a few 'rave' FREE estimate. SWINDON 824372
Greendown headteacher Ian dance sequences thrown in for
Matthews said the school had re- contrast. Picturedabove is Samantha Tel: 870515 No job too small. Personal service
sponded to every point of criticism Brassington dressed for show biz. /
raised by the HMI and new man-
Arrtl
E.B. DENNIS
agementand performance monitor- the centre of teaching organisation LII 1rr ii' lIlt ,
ing systems had been brought in and classes are now taught by sub- ROY SHENTON I
fromSeptember. "We were already ject specialists who follow distinct
studying our operation very care- and clear programmes of study di- QUALIFIED PAINTER,
folly after our first disappointing rectly related to National Curricu- PAINTER& I t
exam results in 1991 at the time of lum requirements. DECORATOR
the HMI inspection. Their verbal Student performa nce is also moni- DECORATOR
report in March helped us focus on tored closely by senior teachers re- &
our strengths and weaknesses. sponsible for each year group. Sys- Interior and Exterior
Every aspect of the school has been tems for checking the quality of Work undertaken CARPENTER
overhauled." teaching had been brought in to as-
Only 25% of students achieved sist staff build on their experience Established 1965 WINDOW AND DOOR
five passes at grades A to C in the and raise standards. For free estimates, LOCKS FlrthD
school's first GCSE results in 1991, Governor chair Roger Ogle said
NO JOB TOO SMALL
with girls at 41% and boys at 9%. that any school which is criticised telephone
11
This year the school exceeded the has to look very closely at its opera-
national average with a 41% AtoC tion. "The staff are to be congratu- (0793)855099 Tel: (0793) 534352
' '1
lI'LhIi
pass rate, girls 55%, boys 27%. lated for their courageous and pro- ' I!
The HMI report criticised Maths fessional scrutiny of theirwork. Last A A A A A A A, A A A A A A^ A ^ A ^^ ^^ AA A AA A^ A A^ AA.
teaching at the school, but twenty summer's improved exam results 5' 5' '1 '1 '1 '' Si (.1 5? 5? 5? 5? 5? W S. Si 5, %I 5, ., 5? 5.' 5? '.' '.? 5.' %I 5? '.1
six students passed GCSE Maths a under the old teaching system were
yearearly and nine passed twoyears very encouraging. Raymond Stansfield
early. The 'redesigning' of the school A
MrMatthews said that the school's promises much better results whilst DECORATOR
aims were explicit in the newly de- retaining the pleasant and caring
signed prospectus. From Septem- educational environment we have with over 30 years experience.
ber subject departments were put at always had."
Craftsman in Paint and Decor
Link Centre's Mad Hatters Tea Party SPECIALIST in Paperhanging, Graining,
The LinkCentre holds a special 'Mad Some of the characters from the Marble, and Decorative Effects & Finishes.
Hatter's Tea Party' on both Sunday ice show will be on hand.
20 and Monday 21 December at Bookings are needed at least 7
5.3Opm. days in advance. A
At £2.99 each child will join in For further information on either Telephone: (0793) 874299
with the Mad Hatter's buffet and the Ice Show or the Tea Party tel- A
'.? 5)5)5) 5) 5/SF S/S/SF SF SF SF5151 Si SFSISI SF5) SF S S/S/fl# SFSi s
will get a party bag to take home. ephone 871212. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A I