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Third reception New early date for 08 primary applications Two Spring breaks
class at Red Oaks Parents should make a note of the new timetable for primary school in 2008
admissions and do their homework on new rules concerning the way
rejected their preferences will be considered. For the first time, next year the
Red Oaks Primary School gover- The deadline for applications is change. Under the old system Spring school holidays will occur
at a different time to the Chris-
nor Jill Bourne understands only 9 November, a month earlier than places were allocated to first pref- tian celebration of Easter.
too well the frustration of the previously. Offer letters will be erences first, meaning that if a Traditionally the two have been
many families who have been re- posted by 15 February. school filled up with first prefer- tied together until the school year
fused a place at the school: her The extra month should ensure ences, marking it as a 2nd or 3rd was rationalised in 2004 to create a
twins are among those who have that all children have places well choice was a wasted vote six term year, with each term
missed out. before the induction process be- For 2008, the schools’ admission roughly the same length.
Naturally disappointed, Jill is gins. However, there could still be criteria will be applied to all three
Because Easter falls on the first
quick to point out that there are difficulties for families moving into choices on a form. If a child could Sunday after the full moon after
many other Oakhurst residents in new homes after the offers are be offered more than one of their the Spring equinox, in 2008 it takes
the same situation. Places were al- made. Under the DfES code of prac- preferences, the parental ranking place at the earliest possible date:
located according to strict criteria tice schools cannot hold places would be used to make the choice. 22 March.
and this left a waiting list of over open in anticipation of demand. In a case where there is only one However the two week holiday
30 once the initial offers had been The way that parental prefer- possible place, it will be offered no is programmed for 7 to 18 April.
made. ences are looked at will also matter how it was ranked.
Hopes were raised when Swin-
don councillors proposed to add a
third reception class, provided that
Year 6 children could use rooms in
the adjacent Isambard Community
School from 2009.
Red Oaks governors were in fa-
vour but Isambard’s saw flaws in
the plan and turned it down. As a
result an extra class will now open
at Haydonleigh Primary.
The delays caused by the con-
sultation led to appeals being heard
in July, leaving dozens of families,
including the Bournes, still uncer-
tain about which school their chil-
dren will go to in September.
“Red Oaks governors were sup-
portive of an extra reception class
for the good of the children and
the community,” said Jill. “As a
school, there are implications for
next year; the same situation is
going to come up again.”
But Helen Miah, chair of
Isambard governors, said there
were several reasons for rejecting
the proposal. She said that the sec-
ondary school was not suitably
equipped for younger children.
There were also concerns regard-
ing movement around the school
and break time supervision.
“We felt it wasn’t a long term
solution; the problem would just
be delayed” she said. “It would
become more and more complex
over the years.”

MP hears school reports
at public meeting
At a public meeting organised by
Michael Wills MP in July to discuss
North Swindon school admissions,
several Oakhurst residents said
they were contemplating a house
move to avoid a battle to get their
children into local schools.
Councillor Garry Perkins admit-
ted that the council had underesti-
mated the need in the area and
said the feasibility of building on a
spare site in Oakhurst is being
studied. However funds would not
be available until 2011.
The MP is proposing to hold an-
other meeting in the Autumn.

1 August 07 11 19/7/07, 3:42 pm