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Heads say farewell in Freshbrook and Windmill Hill
Two headteachers have moved on as Freshbrook and Windmill Hill Primary Schools close to reopen as Millbrook Primary in September.
Windmill Hill head Mark cessful ‘shuffle-up’ day in July with and the Courtauld Gallery on art
Hazzard has been at the school for children from both schools meet- in education programmes has been
16 years, and headteacher for the ing each other in their new classes; memorable.”
last two. He said he did not want to it’s very much business as usual In 1995 art work by Windmill
make a fuss about leaving so that and we’ll have a picnic on the last children on the Wilton Diptych was
the transition between schools can day of term. the first ever by a primary school
be made as smoothly as possible. “Obviously I’m sad about the to be displayed at the National
“The buildings on both sites will closure. Windmill Hill has been Gallery in London. Mark’s involve-
be used in the short term and most tremendously successful and I’ve ment with primary art at a na-
of the staff will continue under the enjoyed my time here; it’s been a tional level has continued and in
Millbrook name. The two schools very positive experience. The April he was invited to speak about
have worked well together over Christmas productions were al- approaches to art education in Brit-
the last six months to make the ways very popular with the chil- ain at a conference in China.
changeover an exciting opportu- dren and parents, but for me our During the last two weeks of
nity for children. We had a suc- work with the National Gallery term Mark ran a joint project for Jan Milsom, centre, with Sam Coombs
children across both schools study- and Rachel Chalcraft and Anne-Marie
Mark Hazzard, with school administrator Gill Peachy and the last pupils
ing the Alfred Wallace picture St Salmon who has been a teaching assist-
Ives which will be displayed, ready ant at Freshbrook since it opened in
for next term. 1981
Mark will become temporary working closely with Millbrook’s
headteacher of Wootton Bassett head designate Clare Griffin-
Infants School in September and Felton.
will be developing his art advisory “The children are very excited
consultancy Artmatters. about next term. I’m really pleased
Jan Milsom came out of semi-re- how two lovely schools are com-
tirement to boost the management ing together. I’m sure Clare and all
team at Freshbrook Primary her staff will build on the strengths
School for a term in 2003 after a that are obvious in Freshbrook and
poor Ofsted report. Windmill Hill.
She later took on the headship Jan is now looking for another
and departs four years later de- school to help improve. “I’ve learnt
lighted that the school has achieved a huge amount in Swindon which
its best ever SATs results. I would like to take elsewhere.”
“It’s been a very busy few • Millbrook logo winner - see page
months, with Mark and myself 16.

1 August 07 15 19/7/07, 3:47 pm