Page 21 - link magazine

This is

%%^ GREENDOWN

Building on success

In the last This is Greendown, published in The Link a year ago, new headteacher Steve O'Sullivan outlined his aim to make the school a centre of
excellence serving children and parents in West Swindon. Here he comments on this first year and the prospects for the future.
The last year has been enjoyable, eventful We have worked closely with the Univer-
and very exciting, both for what we have u ^ sity of Bath and other local universities for a
achieved and the groundwork undertaken number of years to offer opportunities for
for the future. post-graduate students to work in our class-
One of the most satisfying parts of my rooms. These teachers of the future gain a
work is to celebrate the many and varied great deal from working with our highly
achievements of so many pupils throughout skilled teachers. In return, we. have access to
the year. Greendown pupils from year 7 to 11 the most up-to-date thinking and research in
have a great deal to be proud of. education. Some of the best students have
This summer's GCSE examinations results returned to work here as newly qualified
were very pleasing and I would like to offer Headteacher Steve O'Sullivan with deputies teachers.
my congratulations to all our students who Clive Zimmerman and Erica Holley We look forward to an energetic year,
did so well. They are a credit to both their Our application to become a specialist including a range of school visits both home
parents and their teachers. Business and Enterprise College will be sub- and abroad; work experience for year 11; a
Hundreds of students in younger years mitted later in the year and Mrs Evelyn business enterprise day organised by year 10;
received certificates, prizes and were awarded Wheeler gives more detail elsewhere in this visits to local primary schools by year 7
personal achievements for their efforts. Well newsletter. The increased funding specialist pupils; a new school musical; a healthy living
done to all concerned. status brings will enhance the teaching and roadshow; new projects for gifted and tal-
We face an exciting future. The plans for learning at Greendown and will strengthen ented pupils; sporting tournaments; charity
our new building are complete and construc- our already close links with partner primary events and a whole school `stop the clock'
tion work is to begin in January 2003. New schools in West Swindon. day where pupils get the chance to try some
classrooms, a large hall and offices are planned Greendown is acknowledged to be a cen- different activities. Greendown is always an
as well as internal rebuilding. tre of teacher training excellence. interesting place to be.

£3 million expansion to provide GCSE's - nearly the best ever

opportunities for even better education
There are two main reasons to celebrate this year's GCSE results:
Last year Greendown celebrated its fifteenth year since the first intake
1.With 54 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, this
arrived in September 1986, followed by an official opening by Princess represents our second best results since the school opened;
Anne the following March.
Originally 2.With girls consistently doing better than boys at GCSE in England
planned as a 850 and the gap widening in some subjects, boys at Greendown
have gone against the trend by delivering better results than girls.
place school,
Greendown has Chair of Governors Mr Andrew Basson said, "this success comes
grown through about because of the hard work by students, high quality teaching,
several phases of backed by a high level of parental support."
^Ne
building to the + ^ "'' build ^^ Head of year 11 Mrs Evelyn Wheeler said she was particularly
present roll of - area pleased that boys are matching the impressive success rate of the girls.
1,300. Now .. . - "We have worked hard to overcome the 'lad culture' that hinders
another phase of many boys nationally. The support of teachers and parents is
building is about particularly important; sometimes this includes giving firm, clear
to begin as a re direction. We are not a school that shirks responsibilities."
result of a £3 Head of the Pastoral Team Mr Gary Pearson said that exam
million commit- preparation was important. "Several departments held after-school
ment by Swindon Borough Council to provide a further 150 places 'clinics' for pupils who needed to revise or be helped with exam
for West Swindon children. Planning permission has been sought techniques. Students showed a high level of commitment and
and building work should commence later in the year. parental support gave them encouragement to aspire for better
Internal reorganisation of laboratory space has already taken performance. Our hard work over the years with boys seems to have
place and the new facilities will provide nine more classrooms and paid off. Mind you, I think everyone works hard at this school."
a large hall. The building work also gives us the opportunity to Our particular congratulations go to Owen Allenden, John Blake,
rationalise many of the layout and circulation problems created by Claire Dent, Carl Fernandes, Zoe Franks, Leanne Hughes, Katherine
earlier phases of growth. Knox, Christopher Martin, Samantha Michael and Lindsey Sloggett.
All being well the new facilities will be ready for September 2003. They all gained seven or more A/A* passes. Well clone to them.