Page 15 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • October 2006 15
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First day of calm at Orchid Vale
Just under 100 nursery, reception and older children arrived at Orchid Vale Primary School in Haydon End, one of three brand new primary
schools which opened on 11 September.
Dressed in smart blue jumpers
emblazoned with a circular logo
portraying the rare Ordiis Morio,
the green winged orchid, which
flowers in nearby Clifford Field
site of special scientific interest,
the children came together for The
Link for their first ever school
photo.
Headteacher Debbie Kalynka
said, "there is a lovely atmosphere
around the school with everybody
going about their business with
purpose and enthusiasm.
"We're building a community
at Orchid Vale and there is a spirit
of working together, a confidence
in achieving this from day one."
Ms Kalynka contrasted the first
day with the preceding week
which is described as organised
chaos. "The staff worked so hard
to get everything ready for the ar-
rival of the children. I don't think
anybody wants to see another card-
board box.
"Meeting the children all to-
gether was the best part of our first
day. It's been so lovely to see their
eagerness ready to learn and to
put faces to names that we've only
known on lists."

Innovation at Isambard
Rachael Mattey, who took up her post as head of Isambard Commu-
nity School in North Swindon at the beginning of September, will
have to wait until next July to take possession of the new school. In
the meantime, her focus is on planning to ensure that her vision can
become a reality.
"A new school means you can rather than three years. To keep
start as you want to continue and energy and interest levels up in
can appoint people to sign up to the following years, she is in fa-
your vision," she said, your of cutting the length of time
For her, that vision is about each spent on GCSEs. "They can do
child having the opportunity to GCSEs in one year instead of two:
progress at their own rate rather taking four one year and four the
than do something just because of next."
their age. The school is applying to open
She is keen to avoid the per- with Performing Arts and Media
formance dip that often takes place Arts specialist status. "I feel very
when children reach Year 8. "Dis- strongly that performing arts and
affection is a problem for some PE can engage youngsters beyond
young people and it is very hard to the academic curriculum and I've
get them back again from a nega- seen how these subjects can change
tive frame of mind. Key Stage 3 is people's lives," said Ms Mattey.
very long and there's a lot of rep- The school will open in Septem-
etition; we intend to strip this out." her 2007 with only Year 7 pupils
Ms Mattey, would like to see and wil l build in numbers over the
youngsters complete KS3 in two following five years. Ms Mattey
said the first intake will be a spe-
cial group. "It's a fantastic oppor-
y
tunit for the children who will be
choosing Isambard this Autumn.
Everyone in the school will be
focussing on them. They will al-
ways be the oldest and the school
will be what they make it."
"We'd like to meet as many par-
ents and children as possible to
attend our open evening to learn
what Isambard will offer."