Page 14 - link magazine

14 The Link Magazine • March 2005
Consultation and confusion. Schools reorganisation
OF
J44^ GORSE The consultation is under way; representatives from Swindon Council's education department are
debate marked by conflict and disagreement
Hltt
1 979 - 2004 touring West Swindon explaining why primary schools have to be rationalised to remove costly surplus
places, predicted to be around 700 in 2009.
SPECIALISTS IN WEDDING HIRE
Councillors could decide to The January Link headline to this come up with a collective view of
SENIOR SCHOOL UNIFORM
make no changes, but the pressure story asked if reorganising West what's best has been lost. Consul-
KING SIZE MENSWEAR
to have financially viable schools Swindon schools was a vision of tation is once again a top down
AND IN-HOUSE ALTERATION/
is considerable. Therefore two the future or a disaster in the mak- exercise. The people are kept at
TAILORING DEPARTMENT
could close. ing. arms length whilst council officers
LTuu 124 Cricklade Roa At the same time the council is Although the formal consulta- make their report to councillors
keen to use resources more effec- tion was only launched in early for a decision later in the year.
Gorse Hill, Swindon
tively by creating 'extended February, the lead up to the deci-
Tel: 642211 Meetings have already taken place
schools' which incorporate health, sion has been marked by parental
Open: gam - 5.30pm at Toothill and Salt Way Schools
Wed & Sat gam - 5pm social services, community and confusion, anger and suspicion of and also a public meeting in Shaw.
Free car park youth services, for which there is the council's real intentions. The
government funding available. belief is that the decision has been There is still a chance to find out
made and it is 'their school' which what's going on, question council
has been targeted for closure. officers and make point of views
Parents have been critical of heard at:
Westlea School governors for Freshbrook Primary School
breaking an agreement with other - Monday 28 February, 7pm
an education for life schools in January and publicising Westlea Primary School
the council's initial, poorly writ-
- Tuesday 1 March. 7.15pm
ten draft of a consultation docu-
Whatever your child wants to achieve in life, Oliver Tomkins Infant School
a solid foundation in and ment.
is essential. With the year-round Kumon The headteachers of Freshbrook - Thursday 3 March, 7pm
programmes, children develop confidence, School and next door Windmill Shaw Ridge Primary School
discipline and study skills that last them a lifetime. Hill School appeared on local TV - Tuesday 8 March, 7pm
Kumon West Swindon Centre in February offering opposing Windmill Hill Primary School
Lydiard Millicent Parish Hall views: Mr Luke of Freshbrook sup- - Thursday 10 March, 7.30pm
Call Richard Bell on 01285 711170 porting the merging of the two Brook Field Primary School
Centre open 4.00pm to 6.00pm schools, Mr Messenger of Wind- - Monday 21 March, 7pm
Mondays and Thursdays mill defending the success of his
For almost 50 years, children around the world have benefited from studying the Kumon highly regarded and popular A public meeting for West Swin-
maths and language programmes. 45,000 children of all ages and abilities are currently school and the principle of main- don people not involved in par-
enrolled at study centres throughout the UK.
taining smaller schools. ticular schools takes place at
Unfortunately any chance of the Freshbrook Community Centre
community working together to on Tuesday 22 March, 8pm
Restructuring schools: a parent's perspective
Norman Butler, a community governor of Toothill School, with a
daughter at Westlea pre-school, comments on schools reorganisation
I've heard and read much about parents is playing politics with
the plans for West Swindon people's lives.
Schools since a document with one Our representatives' actions are
'proposal' appeared in December proving divisive and unsettling.
2004. Later and fuller versions in- Parents and their children are not
corporating four 'options' con- just statistics. For the residents in
tained statements that were opin- those communities no area or
ion, used bias wording to promote school is better than another, they
one option over another and even just care passionately aboutTHEIR
questioned the motives of teach- school and THEIR community. The
ers. In addition the process was communities belong to the council
not clearly defined, tax paying residents of West Swin-
This unprofessional approach don, not the council's or the coun-
has not instilled confidence, has cillor's. Let's not lose sight of that.
inevitably lead to unrest and if left It's not change that's in question
unchecked will undermine those but the process for implementing
communities they claim to sup- it. I ask the council to now control
port whether the schools remain it moreopenly,clearly,profession-
open or not. ally, sympathetically and with re-
The Cabinet Member for Educa- spect for parents, as it should have
tion, amongst others, made public been from day one. It's not easy to
statementsaboutsavingsandcosts make informed decisions espe-
per head without issuing hard facts cially when you don't have the
or reports to support them. Most information or the knowledge. As
parents accept that from a finan- a parent I am still open minded
cial perspective the review is nec- and will consider all options only
essary and changes are inevitable when and if all details are made
but to make statements about clo- available. Until then I would urge
sures and the financial justifica- all parents to question and chal-
tion without providing the evi- lenge what is happening in their
dence first and before informing communities.