Page 17 - link magazine

The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com 17

Specialist status is icing on cake for
Greendown’s departing head
When Greendown’s headteacher, Steve O’Sullivan, announced his retirement at the end of last year, he
said he wanted to leave on a high - and winning specialist status means that he has done just that.
The news came only two weeks panies RWE npower, Lucent Tech- Community Centre and a series of Free legal advice in..
before Mr O’Sullivan said his good- nologies and Hochtief. family learning days will be or-
byes to staff and pupils on 16 Feb- Their sponsorship, added to ganised to boost community learn- WELFARE BENEFITS,
ruary, 21 years after he joined West £100,000 from the DfES, will be ing, togetherness and fun. This will HOUSING, DEBT
Swindon’s secondary school as used for a state of the art inde- include events like ‘lads & dads’ If you have problems in these
deputy headteacher. pendent learning centre, complete days. areas, don’t suffer in silence
The school in Grange Park is with 60 pop-up computers, a fit- “The West Swindon community We are here to help. Visit us at:
only one of two in the country to ness suite and new technology is going to benefit tremendously Temple House,
be awarded the dual specialisms across the school such as compu- from its school becoming a spe- 115-118 Commercial Road, Swindon
of Maths with Computing and ter whiteboards. cialist college,” said Mr O’Sullivan. Call 01793 486926, or email:
Sport. A classroom dedicated to GCSE “I’m glad I’m able to leave [email protected]
Greendown with such good pros- OPEN: Monday - Friday. 9am to 4pm
pects.”

Mother & Baby Yoga

Relax and bond with your baby
Course starts: Friday 2 March
Workshop: Saturday 24 March

Yoga 4 Children (4-10 years)
Improve confidence,
concentration & co-ordination
Tuesdays & Fridays: 4 - 4.30pm
Year 11 pupils celebrate specialist status with Steve O’Sullivan, left, and the staff
responsible for the successful bid, from left, Denis Denley, Christian Dobbs and Gill Bendy Tots Friday 3.30 - 4pm
Sarjent
Both at Bobbies Dance Studio at the 24 Hour Gym
Greendown was awarded its physical education and body sci-
specialist status following a visit ence will be created. Details from Achieve Success. Call Dawn Morse BSc (Hons) on 700659
by one of Her Majesty’s schools An annual DfES grant of
inspectors. £129,000 for four years will fund
“The inspector was very im- extra staff to target under achiev-
pressed with the calm purposeful ing pupils and those considered
atmosphere of the school,” said gifted and talented.
Mr O’Sullivan. “It’s been a great A third has to be spent on
year for the school with good GCSE projects in the community served
and KS3 results. Greendown is by the school. Even closer links
going from strength to strength with partner primary schools are
and clearly has the potential to planned and pupils will spend time
improve on this year’s outstand- at George Tweed Gardens dwell-
ing GCSE performance.” ing in Shaw to teach residents how
The bid, led by Head of Maths, to use e-mail and the internet.
Gill Sarjent, involved raising A computer skills course is
£56,000 from Swindon based com- planned at the cafe at Freshbrook

Second astro controversy hits school
After the Greendown’s all weather surface was opened in 1988,
residents living next to it objected to the floodlighting and sued
Wiltshire County Council and then chairman of governors Roger
Ogle. Their case was defeated in court.
Now that the astroturf pitch is worn out, Swindon Hockey Club
believes the school is aiming to force them out by replacing the surface
with purpose built 5-a-side football pitches.
But headteacher Steve O’Sullivan is keen to make it clear that,
despite media speculation in February, no deal has been done with a
private company to build football orientated facilities and that various
options are still being considered by school governors. “We are looking
at all ways to provide the best sporting facilities for the school and for the
community we have served for over 20 years. This includes the hockey
club who have been with us from the start. However the cost of replacing
the astro turf starts at £250,000 which is far beyond what the school can
afford.
“In 2004 we submitted an application with Swindon Hockey Club, to
the National Hockey Foundation for a grant to replace the pitch, but it
was turned down. We’ve tried to get Swindon Council interested in the
problem but without sucess. We have to come up with a forward plan
and working with a commercial provider is one we have to consider.”

1 March 07 17 16/2/07, 9:48 am