Page 14 - link magazine

14 The Link Magazine • August 2002
Year 7 places available at Greendown
After all the worry about the lack of secondary school spaces for West Swindon children, there are now
around 15 places available in year 7 at Greendown in Grange Park from September.
Made to
In the Spring over fifty children parents but would welcome en- who are still reviewing the best
measure curtains,
were without a place at either quiries over the summer holidays. school for their child and would
swags, & tails.
Bradon Forest or Greendown be- He said, "there may be parents like a further discussion."
All other valances,
cause both schools were full. In Mr O'Sullivan can be contacted
R-blinds, London, etc.
June Swindon Council finally gave on 874224.
Free measuring & quotations _, , guarantees to the Greendown gov- • The plans for Greendown's new
r
Full fitting service available q ernors about the quality of pro- £3 million buildings were put on
Handmade footstools to order
posed new buildings and it was display at short notice on 17 and 18
Re-upholstery of dining chairs etc.
agreed that the school could ex- July. A multi-purpose hall, 9 class-
pand by another 150 children over rooms and laboratories, new so-
the next five years. cial areas and toilets should be
Greendown headteacher Steve ready by January 2004.
O'Sullivan agreed that the late de- Swindon Council architect Nic
1 Apsley House Arcade. Wootton Bassett.
cision had created uncertainties for Year 6 youngsters who attended the Newland said the project pre-
Greendown induction days in mid- sented the school with the oppor-
July were each given a learning pass- tunity to rationalise the location of
port which sets out what to expect departments and facilities like the
A 2 Z Home Improvements from secondary school, tips on re- library and resource centre which
search, the school rules, uniform and have suffered from piecemeal ex-
All your needs in one number equipment requirements. Holding the pansion over several years to cope
passport to their futures, from left, with the demand for secondary
Kitchen/Bathroom fitting. Tiling, Plumbing. Electrics,
Chelsea Watson from Tregoze School, places in West Swindon.
Painting, Decorating. Carpentry and much more
Sally Blyth from Westlea, Matthew He added it would be a chal-
111 Pinehurst Road Tel: (01793) 339671 Crane from
om Freshbrook, Chris Downes lenge to run a building site with
Swindon Mobile: (07778) 207977 from Oliver Tomkins the school in operation.
No school closures imminent
A amc4 6ute u i If one were to believe newspaper reports in May, the directors from
6 Ci c ea j Tribal Group who are now running Swindon's education department
yea e ,a.ezie^ue
are on the brink of shutting primary schools in West Swindon
because of falling rolls as the population of the area matures.
W - & Cwveatoideo But as parents would expect
things are far more complex and
there are no plans or even sugges-
Windows, Doors
tions that schools will close. Nev-
& Conservatories . ertheless one was forced to write
I to worried parents to assure them
PVCu, Hardwood, that there was no threat.
Aluminium - Mick Daniels, head of resources
and planning, explained that the
Primary & Sol - government requires every local
Secondary Glazing F .. . education authority to keep school
places under review and the Year 6 Salt Way School children put on
April 2002 Document L Compliant Schools Organisation Committee an end ofyear musical spectacular, 'The
(New thermal insulation legislation) has to assess demands for places Rocky Monster Show.' Nathan Ifill
over the next five years and strat- starred as the rock singing mad profes-
sor with Samara Brown as the intrepid
FENSA REGISTERED egies for dealing with shortages detective who foiled his evil ways
and surpluses.
SUPPLY & FIT OR SUPPLY ONLY. TRADE OR RETAIL. The committee met in July to count such as the condition of
review a draft schools reorganisa- buildings, the effectiveness and
COMPETITIVE LOANS CAN BE ARRANGED
tion plan before going out to con- popularity of a school, and whether
sultation. Comments will be con- the facilities can be used for com-
sidered in late September and may munity activities."
lead to discussions about the needs The number of temporary class-
^ of specific communities and the rooms at Swindon schools was a
schools that serve them. surprise to the Tribal directors and
"The plan will look at areas of is a major issue for the committee
the borough in general and does to deal with. Mr Daniels said the
not identify schools," said Mr report could reveal that the school
Daniels. "The government expects surplus problem could be solved
councils to have between eight and by removing places in mobiles.
ten per cent surplus places avail- "School closure is always a con-
able. There are no surplus places troversial issue and would only be
^ `r t -. 'k ! ' % ! `= sly at secondary level but the last study considered if the evidence supports
showed around sixteen per cent in such a proposal. It's an issue that
e&wic windo.w d eomewa Limited primary schools. would have to be discussed openly
Station Road, Minety, Malmesbury, Wilts SN 16 9QY "Population changes in some ar- with the communities concerned."
eas means that schools can have A studyofsurplus places in West
Tel: 01666 860736 Fax: 01666 860761 extra places which they are often Swindon last Autumn by the edu-
Tel: Steve 01666 860885 or David 01793 772463 eves & w/ends keen to remove as they are a drain cation department under the Con-
on the school budget. The commit- servative council did not support
.. •
tee take a range of factors into ac- closures of any primary schools.