Page 14 - link magazine

1 4 Have you seen the new look www.swindonlink.com ?
Parent looks back on education campaign ^y^ c,reendOW, ^,,^..w.w
Communit',
School
that rocked the West community
Getting your child a place at the school of your choice is never straightforward, as parents in West and North
Swindon continue to find out. In 2001 Marc Tielemans from Grange Park was one of 109 West Swindon
parents unable to get a place fortheir child at Bradon Forest School in Purton. The highly motivated and noisy
campaign under the title West Swindon Parents Improving Education (WSPIE) did not achieve their primary
aim of getting their children into Bradon, but succeeded in a £3 million building expansion at Greendown
which increased the number of places available. Six years on Marc reflects that parents should not be overly
concerned if they do not manage to get their child into their first preference school.
My daughter did not go to the tional time for parents. The lesson and it was interesting to see how
school of her choice in Septmeber I have learnt is that the time you both Greendown and Bradon For- r
Marc and Julie Tielerrrau n'ith their
2002, but this has not resulted in spend supporting your child at esthad changed in the past5years.
daughters Hannah and Jodie who
poor education as we feared. home during their education is far Jodie will be following Hannah to
starts secondary school this month
Hannah ended up going to more important than the school he Greendown.
Greendown and had a great time or she goes to. That is how a parent More generally, if you want to rewarding to make a positive con-
there. She received a superb edu- can make a real difference. make a change to education in tribution.
cation and is on target to achieve As it happens, our second Swindon I would encourage you Schools need our help and sadly
GCSE grades way beyond our ex- daughter has just left Tregoze Pri- to get involved and support local the majority of parents just sit back
pectations. She is now going on to mary School. Last Autumn we had schools by becoming a school gov- and let everyone else do the work.
New College to get her A' levels. to go through the whole process of ernor or parent council member. I • GCSE results were due after The
Looking back, it was a very emo- choosing a secondary school again have done both and found it very Link went to press.

Enterprising citizens at St Jo's
Regular lessons were set aside for a day in July as St Joseph's students learned skills for business and for life.
Seeing a 'trapped' teacher cut free from a car wreck . `- Joseph Ellery, who is taking GCSE Business Studies.
was a highlight for Year 8 pupils. The Fire Service Out on the tennis courts, Year 9 youngsters were
extraction demonstration was one of the day's activi- put through their paces by the Army in a series of
ties on a Street Safe theme. 4 team building exercises. Year 7 pupils created art-
The school hall was a hive of activity as Year 10 " ,, work for a new carrier bag for high street chain,
pupils were led through a series of enterprise chal- s— 1 ^ Arcadia, and it is hoped that the winning design will
lenges by consultant Neil Reaich. Each group worked be seen in stores.
as a business unit to earn Euros for their tasks. Business and finance administrator Sharon
"You have to work as a team and each do different Gilchrist was impressed by the team spirit and good
things so that it all comes together. The day improves Fire fight, r> nt ueorlc of o,eph's communication in all year groups. "This will stand
your skills of working in and around a business." said Romarr Catholic School them in good stead for work."