Page 17 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • October 2008 17

West students do well at Bradon Forest Be the star that you are
at Drama Babes
Two former Tregoze Primary pupils put in star performances at Bradon
Forest School when their GCSE results came through in the summer Voted No.1 in ‘The Times’ Top 5 for Kids
holidays. (Published in The Independent & The Guardian)
Katy Stewart Imagine ... flying through the sky on a magic
achieved 11 A* carpet ... diving under the sea or shooting
and 1 A, plus an through the sky on your space rocket!
AS in Maths. Pol- Where shall we go today? You decide!
ly Leech gained 10
A* and 1 A. And
up and coming
tennis star Lucy Independent local theatre practitioner
Roze, despite a
Some of the Bradon high achievers: Polly Leech, Daniel Bartlett, Classes in North & West Swindon and Cricklade
heavy training Katy Stewart, Rachel Hinder, Christopher Etheridge “This is the best thing I have brought any
and tournament of my children to in the last ten years”
schedule served up an excellent “I was particularly pleased Mum of Amelia, aged 2 and a half Free Trial
2A* and 6A. that nine out of our fourteen top www.dramababes.co.uk lessoN
Headteacher Len Spiers said, students are from the West and Call Fiona on 07799 691328
“we were very pleased with the North of Swindon, the traditional
performance and high standards set community area served by Bradon
by our 2008 Year 11 students across Forest.
the ability range. Well over half (64 “Students have enjoyed well
per cent) of our 223 students gained deserved success which is due to
5 or more higher grade passes, with the dedication and hard work of
74 students (35 per cent) obtaining our staff, teaching and support,
10 or more higher grade passes supported by parents and gover-
(A* - C). nors.”
Bid to keep Oakhurst school local

In September, The Link reported that school places could be offered
to children outside North Swindon if a faith organisation were to run
Oakhurst primary.
Residents, who won a successful submits a proposal in November. Now back
campaign to secure a school on the Parents will have an opportunity to iN west
Pioneer Road site at the beginning of comment on the bids in a consulta- swiNdoN
the year, were surprised to learn that tion period built into the competi-
there is still no guarantee that the tion process. I’m sure they will be
school will give priority to children keeping up with developments.”
living nearby. Coun Justin Tomlinson, who
Although Swindon Council has was also flooded by e-mails and
agreed to build the school and telephone calls after the September
wants to manage it, government Link was published, said the bor-
legislation now requires that other ough council would definitely be
interested groups be given the op- bidding to both build and run the
portunity to tender to run schools school. “Oakhurst Primary School
in a competition process. will be more than filled by the local
At a public seminar to explain population in the coming years and
the competition rules in July, Sahid it is our view that it should provide
Sahu, chair of the Swindon Al- the maximum number of potential
Habib education centre, expressed places for local residents.”
an interest in running a school to The final date for applications
meet the needs of Muslim families to run the school is 10 November
across the whole of Swindon as well after which the proposals will be
as the Oakhurst community. displayed at a public meeting later
Melanie Eastwood, whose in the month.
daughter Millie is due to start
school in September 2010, was Admissions advice in
the only parent from Oakhurst to North Swindon
attend the meeting. She appeared
in September’s Link calling for oth- Education officers and admis-
ers affected to contact her and has sions staff from Swindon Council
received a flood of emails. are offering parents personal
She said many had missed the advice on school applications for
public meeting as they had not 2009/10 which have to be in by 14
understood what it was about. November.
“The article did the trick as it was An informal public meeting at Or-
definitely a wake- up call for the chid Vale Primary School has been
community to be concerned about organised by Coun Justin Tomlinson
their school. I’ve been in close touch and takes place on Monday 13
with councillors Vera and Justin October, 6pm to 8pm.
Tomlinson, who say Swindon Bor- “A similar meeting last year
ough Council will be submitting a helped a number of parents and
proposal to build the school. I hope many again will take up
“We’ll find out whether another this opportunity to seek individual
organisation, religious or not, also advice.”

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