Page 13 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • March 2006 13
blame plummeting The new Hreod Parkway School
school boundaries Being built next to the existing school off Akers Way in Moredon the new Hreod is one of seven new schools
being built in the £97 million Private Finance Initiative contract. Completion is expected by January 2007 with
dren is moving out if they can and the school likely to transfer at Easter.
the house prices have plummeted
up there. We bought in 2002 for • Visit to Red Oaks on the North Swindon Learning Campus on page 15. New Moredon primary on page 16.
£225,000 and we sold last autumn
for £227,500 although it was val-
ued at £275,000. No-one was pre-
pared to pay that for a house within
the Penhill catchment."
Another angry home owner who
moved to Priory Vale said, "I had
four or five potential buyers go
elsewhere when the agent men-
tioned schooling or the buyers rang
the school admissions team. My
property sold for £200,000 when a
similar house sold for £225,000 in
Abbey Meads a short distance
away." River View Community School drop-in open evening
Cabinet member for Children's Friday 17 March, 7pm to 8pm, Haydon Centre, Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick
Services Coun Garry Perkins, said
that twelve streets on Groundwell There's a chance to find out more about the new secondary school being built at the
West are affected by the current North Swindon Learning Campus which opens to Year 7 children in September 2007.
policy and fall within the Penhill Meet the governors and the headteacher (subject to confirmation) and representatives of school
catchment. He blamed the prob- managers Equion. See the plans and discover more about admissions and routes to schools.
lems on the piecemeal develop- Children's activity table and refreshments available
ment of North Swindon which
meant, for a time, children from
Groundwell could enrol at Business opportunity at North campus
Bridlewood or Abbey Meads River View Community School in Priory Vale opens in September, but not to children.
schools. He explained that the
catchment areas had to be recon- Although the first Year 7 classes
sidered as houses were built on do not arrive until September 2007
sites nearer the schools. many of the facilities, such as the
Coun Perkins added, "we've kitchens, drama studios, dance and
learned from the Northern Sector sports hall, gym, conference and
development. We need to work community meeting rooms as well
with the developers to ensure that as the outdoor astroturf, should be
this doesn't happen again. I think ready in September 2006.
we have got it right in Priory Vale A serviced unit next to the en-
where two primaries open in Sep- trance, fronting the piazza between village centre has been designated space will have a lot of passing
tember to cater for the growing the learning campus and Redhouse as a 'commercial space' which is trade and u e would like people
population." available to let with a business idea to contact us.
Parents will find out if they have by Equion. It could be a cvber cafe, a book-
a place in their preferred schools Peter O' Conn- shop, a training centre, a mini-gym,
when letters are sent out on 16 • or cam us fa- or a combination of these. It may
P
March. Special provisions are in cilities manager be an entirely new concept, but
place for families with a sibling for Equion, said we're looking for uses appropriate
already attending a North Swin- he's keen to hear to the setting."
don school. from interested To express interest contact Pe-
With the extra places available parties. "The ter O'Connor on 702333 or mail:
at the new Red Oaks primary at commercial poconnor@ equion.ltd.uk
Redhouse and Orchid Vale pri- Left and above, the Learning Campus entrancefacing Redhouse
mary at Hayden End it remains to
village centre
be seen whether children from
Groundwell will gain places in
schools of their choice.
Once places have been allocated FLORIDA VILLA TorunTrips.co.uk
parents can appeal. The admissions
office at Swindon LEA can pro- unique discovery breaks to Poland's cooiet cit-\- :-)
and Swindon's Twinning City
vide information on places avail-
able at other schools and will work
with parents to help them find a
school they are happy with. Par-
ents can also place their child's `a e o 0
t
name on a waiting list if their pre- a _ Luc
ferred school is oversubscribed. Available for rent
Abbey Meads councillor Justin
Tomlinson said many residents Sleeps 8 - Large Pool s
r- ^J i
were faced with the catchment area 15 minutes to Disney h^ t f
problem. "Each and every parent
should be free to have the school of Tel: 01793 825378
their choice and not be bound by
unrealistic catchment areas." or viewwww.jonesvilla.com