Page 16 - link magazine

16 The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com
Leap of faith by families signing up for Isambard
PIANO LESSONS
The hall at Red Oaks Primary was packed at an open evening in early October by families whose children
For beginners could be the first intake at Isambard Community School which opens next September.
to There were no brochures, no staff pressed, but I'm glad
intermediates and no tour of the building. Deci- I dori t have to decide
sions had to be made on the basis this year."
Qualified piano teacher of the presentation by headteacher Even though they — 4 4
in North Swindon, centrally Rachel Mattey. are taking a step into
located within walking distance She set out her vision for the the unkno v n, it
of St Andrews Ridge, Ash Brake, school, talking about an acceler- seems that high num-
Abbey Meads & Redhouse ated Key Stage 2 and taking GCSEs bers of parents ar F
in one year instead of two. Her happy to sign up. '„cr
Pupils of all abilities welcomed
hopes for language teaching cre- Staff from the Swin- ;>'•'
from aged 5 to senior citizen
ated a buzz of interest. To allow don LEA admissions
Call: Julie Johnson-Little CTABRSM students to communicate around are predicting that
Tel: 01793 701255 the world, she would like to see the school will be __ _
Email: [email protected] Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin on over subscribed. i~` '
offer, alongside French. Ten year old Clare ^^
In response to parents' concerns Blundell said, "it'll be
that the children would be the only a chance to do some-
PANICKING year in the school, the head said, "I thing different and e "
ABoUT think the benefits of being the first always be the oldest
cohort through, far outweigh the Rachel Mattey by The • „"
disadvantages."
MAT 41 S "I Street at lsarnbard, the
She explained that they would covered outdoor corridor
Study in your own home have the special status of being the through the centre of the
with a fully qualified first through the school and have school
secondary maths teacher responsibility for setting its tone.
Maths and accounts taught Ms Mattey will be based at the
at GCSE, AS and A2 North Swindon Learning Campus Brimming with excitement
building in November. She expects
Coursework guidance Headteacher of Brimble Hill Special School Bob Walker will fulfil a
to appoint key staff from Easter
Limited places available personal ambition when he takes possession of the school's first
and by September there will be
Competitive prices purpose built premises on the Learning Campus in Priory Vale in
eleven teachers.
Call West Swindon Laura Kewell, has a child who November.
Home Tutors would be in the second year of
on 870 495 intake. She said, "I was quite im-

The Hilton Hotel on Great Western Way has raised £2,884 for library books at the
new Brimble Hill School. Bob Walker, centre right, receives a cheque from hotel
manager Chris Sherman, in early October, with children and staff
The school started life in an old Mr Walker said that the children
hospital at Wroughton in the 1970s don't realise what the move will
and moved to a converted primary mean as they have not yet visited
school in Park North in 1985. the site. "The concept will dawn
Mr Walker is proud to have been on them when they arrive on the
involved in the design for the new first day. Then there'll be awe and
school over the last five years. wonder. I think it'll give them a
Wider corridors will make ma- real buzz."
noeuvring wheelchairs easier and He expects that the children will
every room has hoists to help posi- settle in quicker than the staff. "Be-
tion children. cause of their learning difficulties,
It will include a hydrotherapy our children tend to live for the
pool, sensory rooms and speech day. But we're all so excited about
and physiotherapy facilities to be the fantastic facilities and the learn-
shared with Uplands Secondary ing potential before us."
Special School which will be lo- Staff will start preparing the new
cated in an adjacent building. school from 1 November ready for
The time saved by having a pool the pupils to arrive on Wednesday
on site will mean that all children 8 November, after a longer than
will be able to swim at least once a usual half term break. A big bal-
www.kipswindon.com week. loon launch is planned.