Page 14 - link magazine

14 The Link Magazine • September 2004

OF North primary to be enlarged
0 / m
GORSE z_ m North Swindon parents who argued for more places at Catherine
m
HILL_ Wayte Primary School have won their battle, but they will not benefit
z from the decision by the independent school's adjudicator who has
1 979 - 2004 told the school to offer another 8 places from September 2005.
m
SPECIALISTS IN WEDDING HIRE w z The parents were told that their ter extensive consultation, came as
SENIOR SCHOOL UNIFORM ca children will have to go to a differ- a shock to parents seeking places
KING SIZE MENSWEAR ent school because the catchment now. "Unfortunately the council's
AND IN-HOUSE ALTERATION/ 0 areas were changed earlier in the PFI bid to the government for new
-1 year and siblings were made fourth schools in North Swindon in 1999
TAILORING DEPARTMENT
in admissions' criteria, was turned down which has cre-
O
124 Cricklade Road Last month's Link pictured ated this problem. The PFI was
• from
Gorse Hill, Swindon Y BLAYLOCKS Alison Carr and Lisa Hume from agreed in 2002 but the schools
Tel: 642211 Q Bath Road Corner r- Groundwell, who have children at won't open until 2006.
>
Open: 9am - 5.30pm Abbey Meads Primary, have been "In the meantime the govern-
Old Town, Swindon x
Wed & Sat 9am - 5pm Cl) offered places for younger siblings ment expects the council to fill the
Tel: 534271
Free car park at Penh ill Primary in the other di- spare places at schools across the
rection from their homes. borough. The council is able to
Swindon Council cabinet lead offer parents their first choice of
member for education Gary school in 97 per cent of cases which
Tumble Tots. We build Perkins said he accepted that pre- is much higher than the national
confidence that lasts a lifetime. vious decisions on catchments, af- average.
Tumble Tots is Britain's leading national active play programme,
established for 25 years. Our structured play is specially designed Inspectors approve improvements
to build your child's self-condence and self-esteem through:
Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools (HMI) made another visit to
3 Developing physical skills of ability, Freshbrook School in July and pronounced that it is making good
balance Et co-ordination
3 Developing language with action songs progress towards coming out of special measures in 2005.
and rhymes The Link exclu-
3 Classes for walking to 5 years SKILLS FOR LIFE sively revealed
last November
A unique programme for children from that the school had
' - crawling to walking giving them a chance failed an Ofsted
to develop skills in a playful atmosphere inspection in May
For details of classes call Sue Dobson on 01235 868119 2003. During 2002,
The essential activity for children when Swindon
Council's educa-
tion department
was in a poor state
of management
The Big Adventure and trying to sort Stephen Luke, with Freshbrook School children, in front
out its own Ofsted
failure, nobody in of a football wall decorated by volunteers from Motorola.
After School a supervisory or Staff have helped enhance the playgrounds by installing
monitoring posi- new playground equipment and planting shrubs. The
and tion picked up de- company donated £1,500 and the Friends of Freshborok
Holiday Care clining standards School raised another£1,000. The work was unveiled at
the school fete in July.
and poor manage-
THE ment and leadership at the school. "We are working hard at further
When headteacher Stephen raising standards through enhanc-
Luke took over in January 2003 he ing and developing the quality of
/__-_.__/ BIG\ was immediately faced with the teaching, and we're introducing
The Big Adventure problem of advising his governing more ways for parents to become
body and Ofsted of the situation. involved in their children's learn-
The basis for an action plan to im- ing. Our Key Stage 2 SAT results
prove the quality of teaching and will show a significant improve-
learning, and raise pupil expecta- ment on previous years."
tions, was developed before the HMI will make another visit in
S► FOR inspection took place. HMI have November and Mr Luke hopes
G BOOKING
TAKING now made three visits to review they will give a clear indication
SC HOOL CLUBS progress. that the school will be ready to
"I'm glad to say HMI are pleased
come out of special measures next
with our work," said Mr Luke. year.
IN SEPTEMBIER "Their comments about pupil be-
haviour and attitudes were posi- Mobiles no more
tive and they identified several The last temporary buildings
areas of good and very good teach- were expected to be removed from
ing. In particular they were im- Freshbrook School during the
pressed by the inclusive environ- summer holidays.
Contact Tracey and Peter Bailey ment we have been fostering and In the mid-1980s the school was
on 01793 875992 or 07977 570488 identified the support to the school probably the UKs largest primary
given by the LEA which we appre-
school with over 900 children
ciate, and were also complimen- housed in two permanent build-
Email: [email protected] tary about the leadership and man- ings and about 20 mobile class-
agement of the school. rooms.