Page 16 - link magazine

16 The Link Magazine • March 2001 www.
Worries of where and how to fit in West children Hreod back into
A crisis could be looming in finding places for West Swindon children at the three designated secondary regular
schools.
Bradon Forest and The Ridge- mented, "the admission process allocated. The disparity between timetable
way School determine their own this year has set false expectations the number of children in the catch- Just in time for an Ofsted inspec-
admission numbers and Bradon of a choice that in reality has been ment areas and the number of tion in mid-February, Hreod
has rejected 94 first choice appli- available to very few and has left school places available is clear and Parkway School was able to re-
cants, whilst Ridgeway is believed parents and children who have the impact upon the admission cruit five teachers and reinstate a
to have turned down 53. been unsuccessful in their initial process now and in the future normal timetable for its 1,330 pu-
Bradon headteacher Chris applications in limbo, not know- should have been anticipated well pils.
Montacute said there had been 325 ing to which school they will be before now." In January headteacher Andrew
applicants for 220 places and pri- Fleet had to cut the school week by
ority had to be given to the chil- Primary heads consider
dren from the village area. introducing a'fast day' on Wednes-
day whereby classes were reduced
Swindon Council's education computerised maths teaching
department has written to parents West Swindon primary school headteachers visited Greendown in by ten minutes each in order to
whose children have been turned early February to try out its computerised Maths teaching facilities. release teachers to cover vacant
posts. Whilst school finished at
awayto say they will make a deci- Introduced last September in 2pm on Wednesday, optional af-
sion on allocating places by the response to the shortage of suit- ter-hours study support sessions
end of half term. ably qualified Maths teachers, were offered in all subjects.
Swindon education spokesman the Future School programme
Norrie Porter said there were 310 Mr Fleet said that it was a great
l j encourages pupils to work at a
children in need of secondary fast pace but at their own level, relief to reintroduce the full time-
school places, including those to with a teacher on hand to help table, but the school still had spe-
go to Greendown. "Some of the • with problems. cialist vacancies in English, Sci-
children will go to special schools, Users watch an on-screen ence and PE. Although the crisis in
others will be accepted by out of teacher deliver a ten minute teacher recruitment is a national
area schools and others may suc- l " video lesson on a specific topic issue, Hreod's needs are even
ceed on appeal. before leaving the computer to greater because its numbers have
"We are discussing the situation complete a worksheet. An- increased by thirty per cent in the
with headteachers, but parents swers are then entered on the last two years due to the growth of
should be assured, we will guar- 'I computer which allows the North Swindon.
antee a place for their children." t pupilu to proceed to "Parents have obviously had their
next
the
p
Greendown in Grange Park has Local heads trying out Future School, Richard worries about the shortened week,
topic if the work has been done
240 places available, most of which Jacksonfrom Toothill, DavidMessenger, Wind- correctly. If the pupil does not but were very supportive of the
have been taken. mill Hill; Sally Cowell, Shaw Ridge. Standing, achieve a certain percentage, school's plans and commitment,"
A parent from Grange Park com- Suzanne Seaton, Westlea and Sally Barker said Mr Fleet.
they are asked to watch the
video again and discuss the work "I am concerned that the recruit-
with the class teacher. ment and retention issue in teach-
Future School coordinator Sally ing is not going away. For an ex-
Barker said the system was prov- panding school like Hreod, I have
• from fencing to Extensions ing an excellent teaching aid which fears for September when we have
• lilt building works undertaken complements formal classroom to replace a number of temporary
teaching. "The children are very appointments, as well as recruit
• Large portfolio to view positive about the programme be- for new and replacement posts.
Tel: 01793 886023 mobile: 07990 576464 cause it allows them to work at "It is time for central and local gov-
their own pace and reinforces the ernment and schools to work to-
work they do in class. Those with gether to find practical solutions
an aptitude for Maths can move to the problem, so that no one
ahead quickly, whilst other pupils school is left alone to struggle to
RALEIGH can go over particular work to en- deliver a quality service.
sure theyunderstand the topic."
Greendown is offering local pri- "Our commitment to sustaining
fL mary schools the opportunity to standards and ensuring that we
have the appropriately qualified
H^ctJ^lgs use Future School geared to their
level. teachers in our classrooms."
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