Page 6 - link magazine
P. 6
6 The Link Magazine • October 2001
Arthur Cohen Swindon education department fails Ofsted - continued
R.H.A.D. M.S.H.A.A.
"It reflects our un- the belief that given the
COUNTY derstanding and belief resources, the political
HEARING AID that there have been commitment and the
failures at every level
SERVICES of the local authority existing professional-
ism of our teachers, we
ever since the inception can achieve a real im-
The world's finest hearing aids
of the new LEA in provement in the qual-
at the most competitive prices.
1997." ity of education in the
Home visits without charge Primary, secondary town."
or obligation. and special school Andrew Nye, chair
Special terms for over 60's. headteachers have of the Swindon Asso-
Thirty day full atonev hack guarantee. agreed to work with ciation of Primary
Swindon to salvage a Heads, characterised
Tel: 01793 870047 solution on condition
Director of Education nwlnaon Louncn as
6 Romney Way, The Laurels, that: Mike Lusty, remains having a macho cul-
Shaw, Swindon, SN5 5QB 1. political leaders in post to provide ture. He described it as
work together continuity and liaison 'unreconstructed town
in the interests of hall management more
the children and schools; appropriate to a time when it last
2. education be the highest ran education in 1973.' "Swindon
PHOENIX SURGERY priority for Swindon Council; has been proud of having a low
3. officers are given the power council tax and fond of reminding
Dunwich Drive, Toothill Village Centre to act and make changes, and people of central government de-
that the LEA co-operates fully ficiencies, whilst not always spend-
ing all the available money, and
Dr Peter Swinyard with any external provider mis-managing what it has spent.
appointed by the DfES;
"Head teachers have not been lis-
4. there is full and public recog-
Dr Robert Forrester nition of the serious under- tened to in the past. As a result of
funding of schools and there Ofsted we have given Swindon a
L
very hard time and we believe there
i4 Centra Sa►iH °'' is a significant injection of
Servifl West a money in the next financial is now a commitment to change.
year to dramatically narrow the "Schools have been doing well
New patients welcome funding gap of £6.5 million, in spite of Swindon Council; to-
and that funding be sustained; gether we can build a good educa-
tion system. If not, Swindon will
(01793) 600440 5. internal improvements be no longer be an education author-
identified and opportunities to ity."
use external providers be
explored; the criteria for • Swindon education's governor
decision making being support is the first council
improving quality and raising service to receive the prestigious
the achievement of children Charter Mark
• 01 0 and young people in the town. • Children bus out to Fairford
Mr Wells added, "the head- - see page 12
teachers in Swindon are united in • New school in a mobile - page 13
Community Ken Livingstone style mayor unlikely
Dividend Swindon Council is likely to retain the leader and cabinet system of
local government and not opt for an elected mayor, following a report
to a council meeting on 27 September, as The Link is distributed.
Scheme In the last year the council has findings were being reported to a
carried out a consultation exercise Consultation Review Panel com-
A minimum of 1% into the way in which the council's prised of the three political group
of the Society's business should be conducted in leaders and three prominent lay
future, a requirement on all larger people: Mike Hopkins, Principal
profits are returned authorities who must submit their of Swindon College; Phil Baker of
to projects to conclusions to the government be- Voluntary Action Swindon and
benefit the local fore putting any new systems into David Saunders from the Swin-
place. don Chamber of Commerce and
community through A questionnaire was circulated Industry.
Co-op assistant manager Liam
the Community to every household in Swindon, It will be for the council to de-
Lambert presents a cheque to the
Dividend Scheme. Lower Shaw Farm children's project but a significant response is un- cide which system is submitted to
likely. The council will also rely on the Department of Transport, Lo-
feedback from its Citizen's Panel cal Government and the Regions.
If you think a project you know of could
of 2,640 local residents, focus Councillors are known to favour
qualify for a grant of up to (1,000 groups, presentation to area pan- the cabinet arrangement and early
els and parish councils, and a con- indications are that the outcome of
call 0800 435902 ference of those it sees as the consultation process, whatever
'stakeholders'. The exercise has its validity, will justify no signifi-
for more information been more intensive than most cant change.
neighbouring councils who have The government has insisted
Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester in most cases, not surveyed every that some councils go to referen-
household. dum, but this is not expected to be
As The Link went to press, the the case in Swindon.