Page 16 - link magazine

16 www.swindonlink.com - 10 years

Urgently Pupil transport and West Swindon
wanted The November Link highlighted Swindon Council’s proposal to stop providing free school buses to schools
outside West Swindon in order to save money and fill 500 surplus places at Greendown predicted for 2012.
Greendown School headteacher Clive Zimmerman comments on the issues being considered in a consulta-
Avon reps in tion which ended on 23 November.
your area I’m pleased there is such a healthy most by any changes - Greendown The consequences of this decision
and Bradon Forest in Purton - are for Greendown and West Swindon
debate about the proposal to with-
draw funded pupil transport to good schools. They are different are significant:
• No cash outlay Wiltshire schools for pupils living in some aspects of character and, • securing higher pupil numbers
in West Swindon. with different specialisms, can offer will allow Greendown to continue
• Immediate start Whilst much of this debate has different experiences. However in its journey from being a good school
• Part time hours to suit been about the history of how the Ofsted’s eyes the schools are very to becoming an excellent one. The
current situation arose, Greendown close in terms of ‘value added’. lower level of funding resulting
• Up to 25% commission is very much a school concerned Value added is the measure used from a falling roll would be a sig-
with the present and the future. to measure how much progress pu- nificant barrier to this;
Tel: 01793 702557 The reality for parents is that both pils make and this allows them to • the savings to ratepayers are
of the schools that will be affected compare the effectiveness of schools large. The total savings from the
with different intakes. proposed transport changes are in
Both Bradon Forest and Green- the region of £500,000 each year.
• Full IT Support Keeping you down have value added scores for That’s nearly enough to buy a com-
• Network Security pupil progress at both Key Stage 3 plete set of new textbooks for every
• DSL & Broadband connected (Years 7 to 9) and Key Stage 4 (Years secondary aged child in Swindon.
10 to 11) that place each firmly in the
Greendown will have sufficient
• Disaster Recovery top half of schools nationally capacity to accommodate the extra
• Network Design Given that both are good schools, numbers. We pride ourselves on be-
• Email it’s a shame that pupil numbers in ing a community comprehensive in
• Web design West Swindon have dropped to the modern sense – taking all pupils
the point that Swindon Borough from an area and doing our best with
• Anti Virus & Anti Spam Council rightly feels that it’s time to each and every one of them.
• Cat 5e & 6 Cabling tel: 0845 014 1500 take a pragmatic view with regards There are also clear environmen-
• Data back up & Restore www.sensata.co.uk to transport. I think it’s testimony tal and congestion benefits to not
• Document management to how much Greendown has im- unnecessarily using school buses.
proved over the last three years • Swindon Council’s cabinet will
that the council know they can now consider a report in the new year. If it
consider changes without affecting cuts free transport, the first intake af-
the quality of education on offer. fected will be in September 2009.

Head RusH HaIR & BeauTY

Beauty by Kerry Hairdressing

• Waxing
• Manicures £5 oFF
• Facials when you spend £50
or more in one visit
• Eye treatments for hair services
• Nail extensions (with this advert)

• Indian Head
Massage • Cutting
• Make Up • Colouring
- tints - foils
• Prom, Holiday or
Bridal packages Kerry Tsokos, Gemma McCarthy & Julie Harris • Perms
• Extensions

£5 oFF Tel: 01793 602552 • Bridal hair
• Prom hair ups
Palmer Cutler
tanning 73 Basepoint Business Centre • Children
treatments in Rivermead Drive, Westlea, Swindon A Happy
December
Christmas to all
(with this advert)
Free parking. Late night Wednesday and Thursday from the
Cash or cheque payments only Head Rush team

1 - 21 Dec 07.indd 16 15/11/07 15:28:21