Page 13 - link magazine

li nk.com The Link Magazine • May 2001 13
closer - but slowly North children to go out of county
A group of parents from St Andrew's Ridge and Abbey Meads who
However getting the money is still a big problem. The council's
do not want their children to attend Hreod Parkway School in
application to the government to sanction a Private Finance Initia- September have negotiated places Farmors School in Fairford and
tive (PFI) was rejected last December and a new bid was planned have arranged for a Stagecoach service bus to pick them up.
for the summer. But a decision is now unlikely before December.
Julie Little,
form should be provided at the new secondary school, but surely there who took the ini-
is a strong case for a sixth form college in such a vast area." tiative to contact
Primary schools the Gloucester-
Five primary schools are to be built in the development area, including shire school and
a Church of England school at Taw Hill. A request for a Roman Catholic Stagecoach, said,
school within the area was not accepted. Residents of Rodbourne "when it was my
Cheney will be pleased that their school is not to be taken out of use, turn to find out
which was one of the options discussed. That school, together with about the stand-
Greenmeadow, Havdon Wick and Haydonleigh, will move to a stand- ard of education
ard entry size of 30 places over the next three to five years. This will and lack of choice
disappoint governing bodies who would like the greater flexibility and of schools avail-
access to resources which a larger entry number provides. able to us, I felt it
Community facilities was time to do Happy to be accepted at Farmors, from left, Anjalee and Tia
The report accepts that school buildings should be available for maxi- something posi- Patel, Julie and Neil Little, Barbara Grillo and Daniel
mum community use, but the provision of all-weather pitches and a tive not only for Chew, Paul and Lyn Woodhall with their son Adam
school-hall suitable for a community theatre will depend upon addi- our son, but for
tional capital resources being identified. others in my community, by look- myself and other parents are just
The original proposition for a swimming pool at the northern sec- ing further afield. The promised not willing to send our children to
ondary school, as part of the community recreation facilities has been new school is still years away and Hreod. Our worries have been
rejected because of the drain on school budgets, and that it 'could affect confirmed by the recent Ofsted
the financial viability of the Highworth Rec. pool, especially if some- inspection."
time in the future a roof is provided.' Diary dates "Many parents have become des-
Timescales Family disco organised by Friends perate for their children's future,
The overall funding requirement for the educational provision exceeds of Abbey Meads School (FOAMS) it's their one chance. No-one should
£100 million. Council officers are finalising the details of a second Saturday 28 April, 7pm. A magi- need to move from a nice new area
application for the government's approval to a partnership arrange- cian for the kids; a licensed bar for like Abbey Meads to get a reason-
ment, involving private sector finance. the grown-ups. able school for their child. Farmors
Swindon director of education Mike Lusty said the second applica- Car boot sale organised by was happy to accept our children
tion for private funding support would be submitted in September and Burghley Park Community Asso- and the school is within easy com-
a decision from government was expected by the end of the year. "It is ciation at The Hub: Sunday 6 May. muting distance. My message to
a very tight timescale, but providing the bid is successful, we aim to Set-up: 7.30am; sales commence: any parents facing this dilemma,
start building in July 2003, ready for a September 2004 opening." Sam. Cost per car (no vans) £5. just keep looking, don't give up."

How many Mums consider how much of their
valuable `shopping time' in the town centre is actually
spent shopping?
Just think of the time spent finding somewhere to park, as
near to the shops as possible of course, and then returning
laden with shopping to find you have a parking ticket.
Why do it?
At the West Swindon Shopping Centre shopping can be fun
for all the family because you can visit all your favourite
shops in an all-weather, relaxing atmosphere. Take
advantage of our children's creche, places to eat, low priced
petrol and free and secure parking - all on one level.
_ sho ing.
Oh please Mum...
pp
One-sf0

WEST SWINDON SHOPPING CENTRE
Tewkesbury Way, Swindon
*Aq.
www.westswindonshopping.co.uk