Page 12 - link magazine

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1 2 The Link Magazine • August 2006 Free classifieds now ava °' ale @ u w.swindonlink.com
Salt Way says farewell as children transfer to Shaw Ridge

Swindon Council's aim to close two
West Swindon primary schools and
reduce the number of places avail-
able passed the first hurdle on 19
July when Salt Way Primary in
Middleleaze said goodbye to its
children and teachers.
Over 70 children will start at
Shaw Ridge primary in September
whilst the seven teachers who ar-
rived last September will move on
to new jobs, or are still looking.
Parents, past pupils and teach-
ers were invited to an end of era
party on 6 July to look at photo-
graphs of activities, class albums,
children's work and press cuttings
since the school open in Septem-
ber 1987.
Deputy headteacher Penny
Wood, who has retired from teach-
ing, said she had a lot of fun delv-
ing into the archives to bring all
the material together.
Chairman of governors Steve
Spence said it was nice to see chil-
dren who had moved on to differ-
ent secondary schools meeting up.
On the school field former pu-
Salt War/ children who are moving on to secondary school and others who are going to Shaw Ridge
pils now at Greendown and With the giant S sculphrre which will be sited there
Bradon Forest, plus Salt Way chil-
dren, played a 30-a-side game in The first caretaker Reg Brown- very sad to see the school closing through the ages with help from
the sunshine. ing, who retired in 2003, said, "it's but I've enjoyed meeting up with artist Toni Robinson. Reception
former teachers and children who children created a caveman paint-
Salt Way to continue as education site knew me when I was here." ing whilst Year 5 concentrated on
Salt Way staff organised fun the modernists.
Everything of educational value was transported to Shaw Ridge at the events for the children during July Headteacher Sue Smith, who
end of term to be sorted and used and equipment surplus to require- including trips to theme parks and moves to Aldbourne Primary
ments will be offered to other West Swindon primary schools. School a morning 10 pin bowling. School in September, said a great
displays have been left on notice boards so that the new users get the Artists No Added Sugar spent a deal of work had gone into mak-
sense the empty building has a soul and a history before they arrived. week in late June working in school ing the transition between schools
Swindon Council and the Swindon Primary Care Trust will be turning to create artworks to be taken to as smooth as possible. "There are
the school into a multi-agency childrens services centre with a focus on Shaw Ridge. Children watched mixed feelings about the closing,
children with disabilities and complex health needs - bringing together Gordon Dickinson make a giant but we've worked very closely
a range of education and health related services, many presently metal sculpture from their ideas, us- with Shaw Ridge to ensure all the
located at Victoria Hospital in Old Town which is to redeveloped. These ing Salt Way's red and the blue of children are integrated. They've
include speech therapy. occupational therapy. paediatric assessment Shaw Ridge as its primary colours. all met their new teachers and the
and also the Koala's special needs playgroup. Discussions with other Indoors children painted a se- majority are confident about the
departments about a move to Salt Way are continuing. ries of panels on the theme of art future."
A Sure Start Childrens' Centre to provide support, help and advice to
parents in the Shaw/Nine Elms ward and also Grange Park - to
complementthe West Swindon Family Centre which serves Freshbrook, Freshbrook to get brand new school
Toothill and Westlea - will also be established. Freshbrook Primary and Windmill Hill Primary Schools are to be
Work will take place through the summer holiday to adapt the building combined and a new school will be built on the Freshbrook site.
ready for new uses from September. A unanimous decision was made by the independent School's
Organisation Committee on 19 July to agree Swindon Council's pro-
posal that the two schools should be brought together but operate from
both sites from September 2007, before transferring into the new
building which should be ready in the 2008/09 academic year.
Windmill Hill parents mounted an energetic campaign to retain their
school, after the council revealed controversial plans to reduce the
number of predicted surplus places at the West Swindon Forum in
November 2004.
At the meeting Chris Davison, speaking on behalf of the Windmill Hill
parents, appealed to the SOC to consider the high quality of education.
the ethos of the school and the potential damage to children's future.
Freshbrook Primary School chair of governors Paul Isles said
Freshbrook parents applauded the local authorities bold and exciting
proposals which would bring togetherthe best qualities of both schools.
He said a new headteacher and new management team would be
needed to heal community divisions and forge a distinct identity.
Afterwards Windmill Hill chairman Tim Poole said although his parents
were bitterly disappointed, in the interests of staff and children there will be
close cooperation with Freshbrook and the local authority.