Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Maqazine • December 2004
Radical plans for West education revealed at Area Forum
Declining birth rates, rapidly falling school rolls and the need to respond to new legislation are the spur to changes in the delivery of primary
school education in West Swindon over the next few years. Rationalisation, rebuilding and possible closure of schools and council run social
halls are on the cards, it was revealed for the first time to about 50 people who attended the West Swindon Area Forum on 8 November, with
six of the eight councillors who represent the three wards.
Currently there are 2,800 chil- of empty places will equal about preconceived idea of how this will months before an options paper is
dren attending the nine primary three primary schools, coun be achieved. This meeting is the presented to the Eduction Partner-
schools in the area, but there are Perkins said closure is but one op- first occasion where the issues have ship Board for discussion.
3,254 places. tion. "We are not necessarily look- been discussed in public." Formal consultations on changes
By 2009, Swindon's education ing at closing schools because the Although school rationalisation of use or closure of specific schools
department calculates that the council is being asked by Govern- was outlined as the subject for the would then follow.
number of children needing pri- ment to look at utilising its re- Area Forum in the November Link, Let The Link know your views on
mary education will have dropped sources differently. most of the people there were par- primary school provision in the
to 2,257, whilst there will still be "The forthcoming Children Bill ents with children at Windmill Hill West. Address below.
3,099 school places, a surplus of will mean education and social School in Freshbrook. To discuss the future of a primary
over 800. By then even the most services function coming together Knowing that their school was school with a West Swindon coun-
popular schools will have places, so that in future children do not put up as a temporary structure to cillor, contact:
whilst neighbourhoods with de- slip through the net, as has hap- cope with the baby boom in the
clining school age population will pened so tragically elsewhere. late 1980s, many expressed fear Toothill Ward (Toothill & Westlea)
have up to 30 per cent empty places. "There is also pressure to ex- that the council had already made Mary Martin (Con) 12 Gartons Road
Shaw and Nine Elms councillor tend the use of education build- up its mind to close a successful Middleleaze. Tel: 870705
Gary Perkins, who is also cabinet ings outside school hours. So we school which has received national Steve Wakefield (Con)
lead member for education, told are looking at developing school recognition for art and consistently 14 Middleleaze Drive, Shaw
the meeting that Swindon Council sites to include facilities for under delivers excellent Ofsted reports. Tel: 881962
spends far too much on school 5s, health care, out of school activi- Former Windmill parent and Freshbrook & Grange Park
maintenance, which includes un- ties and youth clubs, as well as supply teacher Eileen Sawyer told (inc. The Prinnells)
used places, at £1,200 per child, involving voluntary organisations. councillors, "Windmill Hill is char- Peter Greenhalgh (Con)
one of the highest in the country. "This might mean developing acterised by sheer outstanding 50 Goldsborough Close. Eastleaze
"Apart from North Swindon the existing buildings or some schools quality through its leadership and Tel: 878146
problem of surplus places exists could be combined; others might the ethos of its teachers. It is an Geraldine Robertson (Lib Dem)
across the town, but is particularly be knocked down and rebuilt. We exceptional school and Swindon 4 Sheen Close, Grange Park
great in West Swindon. Govern- are also looking at the long term would lose a priceless resource if it Tel: 877356
ment says we are an affluent town future of social halls and commu- were to close." Chris Sheppard (Lib Dem)
which means the council has to nity centres across West Swindon. Her comments were echoed by 22 Tyburn Close, Grange Park
find funding for renewing schools "Some sites will have to be sold parent Jenny Brett. "Windmill Hill Tel: 631033
from its own assets." to generate income for these plans, is a success because the care of its Shaw & Nine Elms
Although the predicted number but at present we do not have a children are paramount in the eyes (inc. Ramleaze, Middleleaze,
of the head and the teachers." Peatmoor & Sparcells)
Coun Nick Martin said the views Nick Martin (Con) 12 Gartons Road,
K. & E. J. CRUMP & SON of the parents were important and Middleleaze. Tel: 870705
helpful to the debate. "Windmill Douglas Stewart (Con)
Hill has not been targeted for clo- 1 Newmeadow Copse, Peatmoor
FAMILY BUTCHERS sure, but the council needs to learn Tel: 882550
how to develop the ethos and qual- Gary Perkins (Con) 57 Oakbourne
120 HIGH ST., WOOTTON BASSETT. Tel: 853284 ity that it has across all its schools." Park, Liden. Tel: 527806
Also in attendance Director of e-mail addresses can be found at
CHRISTMAS ORDERS Education Hilary Pitts said that www.swindon.gov.uk
meetings would be taking place
Or write to the Director of Education
with staff and governors at all pri- Hilary Pitts, Sanford House, Swin-
NOW BEING TAKEN mary schools over the next few don.
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