Page 13 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • June 2005 13
LEA knew about Salt Way problems long ago FREE TIME!!
Parents say council is punishing their children for management failures LEARN SPANISH
A group of parents with children who attend Salt Way Primary School in Middleleaze, say their pleas to QUICKLY
Swindon Council to sort out their school last year fell on deaf ears and now the council wants to close the Efficient conversation,
school because of falling rolls and what the director of education calls 'the standards agenda.'
listening, pronunciation,
Following the announcement of the chair of governors aware of the ship Board considers the next stage grammar to help you
the closure proposal in April, par- increased emphasis Ofsted puts on of the council's closure plan in June.
ent Christine White contacted The school governance. Details of how Salt Way chil- survive in everyday
Link about a 40 name petition she That Autumn a LEA Support dren will be absorbed into nearby situations.
sent to the education department Plan was written and help by the primary schools are still to emerge. Classes for adults,
in July 2004 with a letter pleading link adviser, the Primary Strategy • Swindon Trades Union Council college students, and
for help. Team and Human Resources was has set up a campaign to save Salt dynamic kids classes.
But Swindon Education say ad- put in place. Way Primary. For details call par- Flexible hours available.
visors have been involved with In May and June 2004 the Assist- ent Ayzee Hyner on 879958.
the school since 2003, extra train- ant Director of Education met the • What's next for Freshbrook and For more information call
ing provided and the governors headteacher and chair of gover- Windmill Hill Primary Schools? Shirly on 07913 537573.
kept informed of the support given. nors to discuss the lack of progress See page 14.
Mrs White said, "I wrote to the on management issues and ex-
council in desperation last year be- plained why the school was being
cause my daughter's education placed in the LEA's 'Category 4 -
was suffering. Other parents were schools causing concern.'
upset by the turno-
ver of staff, the
number of children Professional Tuition 3 For ages 6-16
leaving and the lack A Air
of interest to involve in English & Maths 3 Individual Workplans
3 Qualified Teachers
parents.
"The reply from Free Assessments 3 SATS/GCSE/Exam Prep
Swindon was that I 3 Unique programmes
had to follow proper Kip McGrath - Swindon 3 Proven Success
procedures and I Unit 83, Basepoint Business Centre,
Rivermead Drive. Westlea SN5 7ED. 3 Affordable Rates
had to first talk to
the headteacher. I
did that and was as-
sured things were
changing. I was not
convinced and sadly Parents holding a copy of the petition they sent to Swin-
applied for a place
don Education in 2004, from left, Donna Clifton, Caroline
at Shaw Ridge."
Poulton and Christine White
Mrs White's appli-
cation was successful in April. But A formal Task Group was estab- Risk Assessment Principles and Practice
joint petition organiser Donna lished but by November 2004, there Multimedia Creative Techniques
Clifton, whose child is still at Salt was not enough progress and the r
Way, said, "we tried to get the LEA appointed an external Inter- Enhance your Sense of Style Enrol
council involved, but the only time vention Consultant to work with +s YMCA Exercise to Music
we saw them was at the post- the school in conjunction with its Free Desktop Publisher I
Ofsted meeting this March where own support advisors. Indian Head Massage
the education officers said they In January this year the Ofsted
were helping the school turn the inspection concluded that, whilst Beading Improvers
corner. The headteacher went on children were well behaved and African Drumming
sick leave and many of us came wanted to do well, and there was Door Supervisors
away with our hopes raised that some good teaching, the school had
things were going to improve. serious weaknesses due to unsat- Abrasive Wheels
Then, during the Easter holiday, isfactory leadership. Women's Health
they announced they wanted to The LEA says that the former Creative Writing
close the school. chair of governors, who resigned Egyptian Dance
"The whole process has been in April, was kept informed of the
very stressful and has left parents support to the school and the de- Aromatherapy
very cynical about the council's tails of visits made. Pole Dancing
motives. They point out that education Ref lexology
At a meeting with parents on 27 authorities, headteachers and gov-
April, following the Swindon erning bodies allhave defined roles Networking
Council cabinet's decision to for- and responsibilities and that Swin- Early Years
mally start pre-statutory consulta- don Education has provided the Bridge
tion procedure, Director of Educa- necessary support to Salt Way.
tion Hilary Pitts said her staff had However some parents argue Reiki
been aware of 'standards issues' that their school should notbepun- ai
for two years. ished because of a failure of man- ri
A statement by the LEA for The agement. Donna Clifton, when told
Link says it has been monitoring that the LEA had been trying to
the school's performance since resolve the problems since early
January 2003. In July that year, in 2003, commented, "they did not
response to 'continuing issues take effective action. Now over 100
around standards,' education of- Salt Way families face disruption."
ficers made the headteacher and The Swindon Education Partner-