Page 13 - link magazine

The Link Maqazine • May 2002 13
North Swindon schools secure Easter school looks inside the individual
government backing - at last Twenty nine Hreod Parkway pupils returned to class during the
Easter holidays to attend a 'Dealing With Feelings' course which
Better late than never, Swindon Council's second bid to raise £58 aimed to help pupils identify their emotions and learn how to express
million in private finance has been supported by the Government, them in a positive manner.
after the first was turned down in December 2000. Learning support teacher Tracy Hammond said the children listened
This will fund the rebuilding of Parkway means that it is likely to to stories, took part in drama, produced artwork and used computers.
Hreod Parkway on one site, a new be the first part of the project to "We looked at anger, happiness, sadness, fear, rejection, feeling loved,
secondary school in Priory Vale , open, probably in September 2005. feeling intimidated, boredom and loneliness to understand our own
five primary schools and two spe- Swindon Council launched its feelings as well as recognising other people's to develop a greater
cial schools. public consultation on the project empathy for those around us."
However a business plan now in July 2000 in the expectation that She said that all who took part thought it a positive use of their
has to be prepared and submitted a new secondary school would be holiday break, which included a ten pin bowling afternoon.
to the Government. If approved, ready by September 2003. The
companies will then be invited to August 2000 Link front page fea-
bid to build, operate and maintain tured Abbey Meads parents wor-
the facilities for 25 years to specifi- ried that the North Swindon sec-
cations drawn up by the council. ondary school would not be ready
by 2003.
Last year some 90 Swindon
children went to Farmors
School in Fairford rather than
take up places at Hreod.
Council leader Mike
Bawden welcomed the PFI an-
nouncement at the end of
March. "The council's bid was
based on a desire to provide
the highest quality educa-
tional and community facili-
ties for the people of North
Swindon. The next stage is to
look at how the PFI project
will be funded."
To repay the private con- ^^ W kk
tractors who will run the
scheme the council will need
to find an extra £3 million a
The first houses being built next to the year for the next quarter of a BLOOMS
North Swindon school site at the yet to be
century.
occupied Priory Vale development of Bressingham
Hreod Parkway head-
A report to the council cabinet teacher Andrew Fleet said he was
states that it will be April 2004 relieved at the decision. "We are the place to be
before this process is completed. working in time-lapsed buildings
Detailed plans should have been on two sites which urgently need this spring, .
drawn up by this date and con- replacing. We can now see a clear
struction should be able to start way forward to significantly rais-
soon after. ing educational achievement in fit n Imaginative and stylish plants and
The crumbling state of Hreod for purpose facilities."
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