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THE No. 157 • May 1995 • Circulation 15,000
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Education counts cost of parents' success

Wiltshire County Education Com- other 28 children to attend Ridge- led to believe there would be space the education committee agrees to
mittees hard pressed budget will way School from September. for more children. provide new mobiles.
be put under greater strain follow- The schools agreed annual ad- Now the county's school trans- The December edition of The Link
ing the decision by an independ- mission limit is 240, but a group of port bill will be increased, and the reported parental confusion about
ent appeals panel to permit an- parents argued that they had been school faces overcrowding unless the number of places available at
Ridgeway. The Education Depart-
ment's admissions booklet for par-
Big break for actress Billie ents stated that 240 places were
available. But headteacher Tom
A talented youngster from Shaw will soon be taking the next step towards her dream of becoming Axon surprised many parents at
a full time actress. October open evenings by giving a
'guarantee' of a place to any child
Billie Piper, 12, from Nine Elms rector Julia Dickinson put her for-
has won a half-scholarship to the ward for the auditions." who wanted to attend his school.
Letters were later sent to par-
Sylvia Young Theatre School in Against 23 others at the shortlist ents by both the Ridgeway chair of
London, having been chosen over auditions Billie's Shakespeare governors and Wiltshire's Chief
300 other young hopefuls. reading, singing and dance shone
The Bradon Forest School year 7 through. Billie's reaction to re- Education Officer restating the
pupil has been a member of Swin- ceiving the letter offering the schol- school's intake was an agreed 240.
don's Sixth Sense Theatre Com- arship was ecstatic. "It's fantastic. Earlier this year four derelict
pany for several years and has per- I've always wanted to be an ac- mobile classrooms were demol-
ished and two more were ear-
formed in many performances at tress; it's like a dream coming true."
the Wyvern Theatre. She has also Her dad, builder Paul Piper, is a marked for use at other schools.
appeared in several TV adverts for little dazed about the sudden Now that another 28 children
broadcast in the USA. change in Billie's life. "A lot has are expected, Ridgeway School
Billie's mother, Mandy Piper happened in a short time. There chair of governors Christine Gale
said the family were delighted with are many details to sort out, like is concerned about the pressure on
accommodation. "We're delighted
her success. "Billie has been a per- the scholarship and somewhere to
former from a very young age. A star in the family: Billie Piper with live. We hadn't planned for her to that parents have received their
She's always putting on little plays her parents Mandy and Paul, and leave home at such a young age, choice of school and we will we!-
in the living room with her brother brother and sisters, Charlie, Harley but she has the talent and we don't come their children. But we des-
and two sisters and she used to and Elie want to hold her back." perately need to keep the two mo-
help choreograph productions at "We didn't quite realise how Billie will be starting theatre biles still on site.
Brook Field Primary School. good she was until Sixth Sense di- school in September. Continued page 2

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