Page 14 - link magazine

14 The Link Magazine • June 2005
Parent gives council `the steer'
TJ4E TIMBER www.limberdeckingeo.co.uk
DECKING COMPANY The complete it wants in Freshbrook
LTD TIMBER DECKING Specialist Whilst Swindon Council's Education Department proposed closure of
Salt Way. it is holding more discussion on how to reduce the number of
Now supplying easy to assemble empty places atToothill, Freshbrook and Windmill Hill Primary Schools.
Jungle Gym playhouses in a Windmill Hill parent Chris Davison picks apart the council's case.
great range of sizes and modules No 'clear steer' was the
to satisfy every child's dreams LEAs conclusion in its
consultation for reorgani-
this summer
sation of primary educa-
6 Brindley Close tion in the southern part
Cheney Manor Industrial Estate of West Swindon -
Swindon. Toothill, Freshbrook and
Tel: 01793 488899 Windmill Hill.
Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm; The LEA's report stated
i, 97 per cent of Freshbrook
School respondents fa-
voured amalgamating both
schools into a new school
built on the Freshbrook site.
On the other hand over
99 percentof Windmill Hill
respondents favoured the
removal of empty places
from Freshbrook School
leaving Windmill Hill as a
one form entry school. School and Freshbrook Primary
Not much of a difference in num- School will face the most signifi-
bers you will say, but there is a cant issues concerning declines in
huge difference. The report did school roll.'
not emphasize that there were 35 The LEA has ignored alterna-
respondents from Freshbrook but tive proposals that have been sub-
183 from Windmill Hill - a ratio of mitted, which would deal with the
over 5 to 1. issue of empty places across these
This means for every 1 person three schools. There is a clear steer.
who wants an amalgamation more Why is the LEA not listening?
than 5 people do not. How can • The Swindon Education Part-
these percentages be put together nership Board will consider the
when the number of respondents future of the schools mentioned
is so different? One can only as- here in September.
sume that they are given this way
in order to deceive. Come together says Tracey
Two of the LEA's other findings
are: 'In terms of planning area 6,
Freshbrook Primary is the only
school with empty places.....
Tregoze Primary School is full and
is not predicted to meet the 25 per
cent surplus places trigger point
within the next 5 years. It is on this
basis that Tregoze will not be sub-
ject to further discussion.'
However the consultation never
included Tregoze in the first place;
every option left it as they are, why
was this?
Windmill Hill is not predicted
to meet the 25 per cent trigger Freshbrook mum of four, Tracey
within the next 5 years either. Clifford, knows about school ri-
So why does Swindon LEA con- valries.
tinue to do its utmost to close one As a ten year old living in
of its best performing schools, Toothill in 1976, she spent her
For the latest cut, colour which over the last 18 years has school life travelling across Swin-
or re-style call 874825 consistently provided children don first to Park North Juniors, then
with a high level of education - as Richard Jefferies middle school, end-
for an appointment or been borne out by SAT results and ing up in Parks Seniors.
league tables year on year. Surely She supports amalgamation of
free consultation! this school is too good to be thrown Freshbrook and Windmill Hill. "It
away. is really sad to have so much con-
Open: Tuesday & Wednesday 9am - 6pm; Why are the LEA not concen- flict in the community. The idea of
trating on the schools which have an extended school is appealing; if
Thursday & Friday 9am - 7pm; Saturday 8.30am - 3.30pm
a surplus places problem? Their both schools were brought together
own report states: 'On the basis of it would be for the good of the
current information, Oliver families living in Freshbrook and
Niift Shaw Village Centre, Shaw, Swindon Tomkins Infant, Toothill Primary Grange Park.