Page 15 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • July 2003 15
Award for adding value I maginative stories created for film
Bradon Forest School is celebrating receiving a School Achievement Year 3 children at Catherine Wayte Primary School in Abbey Meads
Award worth £26,780, the third year it has been recognised in this way. became TV stars recently when a film crew spent over 10 hours
Headteacher Len Spiers said he education and it puts us in the top recording their literacy lessons.
was delighted for all those who fifteen per cent of schools in the On a visit to the school earlier in fantastic chance for the children to
work at Bradon. "The first award country." the year regional advisors from see how productions are made for
was for improvement in the edu- Chair of governors David the National Literacy Scheme were television; they were able to look
cation we offer. For the last two Procter said the governing body so impressed with deputy head- at the cameras and sound equip-
years the award has been for per- was proud of the achievement. "All teacher Celia Messenger's lessons ment and ask the crew questions."
forming at Key Stage 3 and 4 at a who work at Bradon deserve the that they asked if she would teach Miss Messenger had to deliver
higher level than comparable award for their professionalism in her class whilst being filmed for a the lessons as naturally as possible
schools which is an indication of delivering a well balanced quality training video, to be used as part ignoring the production team, al-
the value added to our student's education to all the pupils. of a learning module on the lit- though children were sometimes
eracy hour, aimed at year 3/4 asked to repeat group discussions
Three awards on show. Len Spiers with from left, Darren Dereitas, Chloe
Little, Laura Marsden, Kate Phillips, Tom Martin teachers. to satisfy the soundman.
The classes filmed focused on Describing how the children
story writing for the unit of work coped with the filming Miss Mes-
on mystery and adventure. To en- senger said, "their behaviour was
hance the experience the Depart- brilliant, they took no notice of the
ment for Education and Skills cameras being pointed in their faces
funded a trip to Lydiard House so or the sound boom above them as
that the children could feel the at- they spoke. The experience of visit-
mosphere of the St John family ing Lydiard really added detail to
ancestral home. some excellent stories."
Whilst in one of the rooms the
film crew captured children 'dis- Greendown gets
covering' a treasure chest which left over cash
was brought back to school to be Having agreed to build an exten-
used as a basis for story writing. sion to accommodate another 185
Describing the visit, 7 year old children over five years at Green-
Head says tests results Katie Goodwin explained "it was down, Swindon Council's cabi-
do not measure whole school excellent, the trip was great. Find- net is allowing the school to spend
ing and exploring what was inside £192,400 on computer equipment,
West Swindon's Brook Field Primary School is celebrating a £10,000 the chest was best of all." networking and furniture.
grant from the government for receiving a School Achievement Award Filming at school took place over The money is the balance of the
for its SAT results which are in the top ten per cent in the country. four days when the classroom £3 million capital already allocated,
sometimes resembled a TV soap after the building contract came in
set. Miss Messenger said, "it was a under budget at £2.7 million.

I I

Start September 2003
Degree
Modern English Studies
Early Years (Foundation pegree,
Health Studies
Psychology
Sociology to association with
Oath Spa University College
HNCHND
Keeping up creativity. Printing covers for school journey books, Roger Nicholas Computing
with year 6 children, Paul Hunt, Gem ma Rees, John Cushion, Kayla Rejek Sport Science In association with
Gto-cat
But in welcoming the success dren and teachers. Management
headteacher Roger Nicholas " Unfortunately primary schools Certificate Diploma
In a n with the
warned against over expectation are manipulated by a system that Chartered Management Imtttute
of teachers. "There is no doubt, we emphasises the core subjects. Test
are all very proud to have gained performances can only be one as- Why Study?
the award which recognises the pect of how a school should be . Loc
Local aN
P . Caring B. triendly tutors
3
immense teamwork of all who seen. At Brook Field we've always • Flexible day S
evening ttmetabling
work at Brook Field, a hard work- been committed to being judged . Excellent exam result:
ing governing body, and also good by how much creativity can be Interestinq progcslon
routes
support from advisors from Swin- found in the school and how well
don's education department. we prepare children as citizens. "
"However, it gives me the op- Commenting on recent Govern-
portunity to point out that getting ment recognition that education
awards like this are not the most should be a wide experience, Mr
important thing in education. Nicholas added, "it's all very well iJ;iic;i Wb'a'IMAI
"Test results vary with the abil- for ministers to encourage schools
ity of children in a school in a given to take more initiatives in the arts.
year and high levels of achieve- Yet they still want them to deliver
ment cannot be sustained without higher SAT scores; the pressure on
putting immense strain on chil- schools is relentless."