Page 14 - link magazine

14 The Link Magazine • January 2003
Education department hopes to make the grade in 2003

In six months time education watchdog Ofsted make a repeat visit to Swindon's education department to assess the changes since the
disasterous last inspection.
The Ofsted report humiliated With the agreement of schools,
Swindon in September 2001 by the council and the Government,
describing a catalogue of failure and to avoid takeover by civil serv-
marked by chronically poor rela- ants, control of the education de-
tions between senior officers and partment was effectively taken
schools, inadequate leadership, away from the council. g ^^
confusion, uncertainty and a lack Now reports are discussed by
of transparency and trust. an Education Partnership Board
In the last year there has been a made up of a wide range of inter-
clear-out of senior officers, leader ested parties which makes recom-
of the council Sue Bates has stepped mendations about the way educa-
down and private company Tribal tion should develop in the town.
were brought in to oversee changes The response to the 17 areas of L1 ..
in policy, and begin to rebuild the failure identified by Ofsted fifteen .
relationship between the council months ago and its 46 recommen-
Hilary Pitts with Greendown School graduates at their certificate evening on
and its schools. dations has been set out in a three
12 December. From left, Liz Cosgrove, Daniel Lambert, chair of governors
year strategic management plan
Starting school soon? and a whole series of achievement Andrew Basson, Eddy Much in, Gemma Bastin, Jamie Shirley, Jennifer Tiley
Was your son or daughter born milestones have been established will be joined in January by three will be borne out when the inspec-
between September 1998 and to assess progress, beyond the visit assistant directors to continue the tors visit schools."
August 1999? by Ofsted in the summer. challenge of creating an effective For 2003, Ms Pitts sets out five
If so, then he or she is due to In the relatively short time the education department. priorities:
start school in September 2003, Tribal team were in the front line, She is the first to recognise that • a management culture marked
January 2004 or April 2004. headteachers across the town were things must get better. "Despite by clear transparent leadership;
The deadline date for applica- impressed by their openness and the local authority, schools have • delivery of high quality services
tion is 12 noon on 31 January. straight talking. They are now worked hard to deliver education to schools;
Application forms can be ob- moving into the background to to children in the town. At all key • across the board improvements
tained from any of Swindon's provide management oversight stages, against national standards, in pupil progress;
infant or primary schools. over the next three years whilst a improvements have been made in • raising of pupil attainment;
Or call the admissions helpline new permanent senior manage- Swindon. With effective support • development of a learning cul-
at Swindon Council's education ment team takes over. from the authority, we have a tre- ture across the community.
department: Linda, tel: 465790; New Director of Education Hi- mendous opportunity to help This last point underpins the
Jill, 465791; Sue, 465789 lary Pitts started on 1 October and schools exceed national stand- future for Swindon she says. "I
ards." believe education is at the heart of
Nevertheless preparations for community development, some-
the next Ofsted are already taking thing that everybody should value
P A R E I1 1 ' place with schools being asked to highly. It is the key driver for re-
generation and all involved have a
return Audit Commission ques-
part to play in delivering improve-
•
tionnaires about Swindon's per-
formance and Ms Pitts hopes that ments in addition to schools and
Would you like these the changes at the centre will be the local authority - parents, busi-
reflected in their responses. nesses, further education, the po-
benefits for your "Schools are successful and make lice, the church, to name a few.
child? a difference to a child's education "In the past education in Swin-
Respect Self- if they have clear strategic man- don has been made up of many
Discipline Defence agement and leadership; the same parts. If we can pull together, the
future for the town's children will
applies to local authorities. There
Temper Focus are indications that relationships be much stronger and the effect on
irol Confidence are improving and we hope these the community will be dynamic."
Allow the Leigh Childs
for
s Black-Belt Academy to Teleworkers get together
*7"rs show you first hand,
how empowering the M4 Business Resource at the University of Bath in Swindon is
Martial Arts can be for organising a day for teleworkers and home workers on Tuesday 21
your Child. January, 10am to 3pm at the Oakfield Campus.
A free exhibition and seminars on aspects of working from home will
take place. Representatives from organisations including the Telework
Association, Business Link Berkshire & Wiltshire, Inland Revenue and
the Health and Safety Executive will offer advice and guidance.
For details, call 690913 or mail: [email protected]
Campus close to Commonhead plan
The University of Bath has announced plans to build a state-of-the-
CLASSES art campus for 8,000 students next to M4 junction 15, close to the Great
The only school to offer FROM Western Hospital and a proposed science park.
8' a 30 DAY NO RISK TRIAL Z 9permonth The University of Bath's vice-chancellor, Professor Glynis Breakwell,
-
said, "as one of this country's top universities we want to build a major
campus which will service local, national and overseas students, busi-
nesses and communities. This will be no average campus - we're
planning cutting edge activity in Swindon."
The move will enrage local environmentalists who objected to the
Call 0800 0191 585 to book your place hospital and will be against any further green field development.