Page 16 - link magazine

16 swindonlink.com • February 2008
School to be a green pioneer in the fight against global climate change

Toothill’s new primary school is going to break new ground when it is completed this summer.
The architects are going to put tion. Because of increased risk of mental concerns were
the grass and organisms from the flooding from heavy rainfall, new important to everybody
ground where the new school is buildings are required to slow down during the consultation
being built onto the roof in garden rainwater run off. Sedum acts like process and we’re all
of sedum and succulent plants. a sponge and releases water slowly very pleased that our
Tony Currivan , Swindon Coun- and it also generates oxygen. school is doing some-
cil’s architect who has designed the “They provide excellent insula- thing serious for the
feature, said the children, parents tion and do not require a lot of planet.
and staff were very keen that the maintenance over the whole life- “The roof will be-
school made a strong environmental cycle of a building. come part of the curric-
impact. “A sedum roof ticked all the Headteacher Martin Cowell ulum; it will be our own
boxes for everybody. They are an is delighted his school is taking environmental science
increasingly popular roofing solu- green issues seriously. “Environ- laboratory. Because of
the shallow angle and school project is the first large scale
the fact that the school is dug into sedum roof in the town, but the first
the ground, people will see a hive of installation took place five years ago
activity as bugs and insects colonise and can be found on top of the Pizza
the soil and plants.” Hut restaurant at North Swindon
The Link believes the Toothill District Centre.
Above, the design for Toothill Primary school.
Below, the sedum roof at North Swindon

Shaw Ridge newts to be captured
The process of rounding up the protected great crested newts which
have delayed the building of the new Shaw Ridge Primary School for six
months should commence in February, providing it does not snow and
they decide to go back into hibernation.
The site has been surrounded by newt fences since October and
some 70 traps are in place to ensure as many as possible can be found
and relocated.
Millbrook set for March start
A new primary school to serve Freshbrook has been given planning
permission. Work should start in late March so that the building can be
occupied in July 2009. This will enable the old Freshbrook and Windmill Hill
Primary School buildings to be removed during the summer holidays.

Top tutors relaunch as Aspire
Both Kip McGrath centres in Swindon closed suddenly in January but
tutors Andrea and David Parkinson have set up under a new name -
Aspire - and are now teaching in Lydiard Millicent parish hall.
Disagreement over changes to This means they can ensure that
the franchise contract and concern after-school tuition complements
about the suitability of teaching work done in school.
materials led the couple to cancel “We believe that we are the pre-
their agreement with the Australian mier tutoring service in Swindon,”
based company KMEC and shut said David. “Last year we had up
down tuition centres at Basepoint in to 190 students a week. After a pe-
West Swindon and Gorse Hill. riod of exile less than a mile from
For some time David and Andrea Swindon we will spring back. In the
have felt that the materials were not meantime the quality of tutoring
tailored for the UK and have been will remain at a high standard with
developing their own appropriate a ratio of no more than four pupils
resources. They have both taught in to one tutor.”
schools in Swindon and maintain Call David at Aspire Tuition on
close contact with local schools. 07925 193321 for details.

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