Page 14 - link magazine

14 swindonlink.com • January 2009

Space for specialists at Bridlewood Brimble head retires at the top
Two extra rooms at Bridlewood Primary will provide a quiet space Having realised his dream of a purpose built school for children with
for specialist teaching. severe learning difficulties, Brimble Hill Special School headteacher,
Bob Walker said a fond farewell in December.
Mr Walker, below, has seen the was a sad occasion as Mr Walker
school through two moves: from said farewell to the 70 pupils who
World War II hospital buildings he will miss terribly. “They come
at Burderop, Wroughton to Park through the door each day with
North in 1985 and into a state of the smiles on their faces. Most of our
art facility on the North Swindon children confound predictions
Learning Campus in 2007. about their health and their futures.
In his 25 years as a headteacher, It never ceases to amaze me what
there has been tremendous progress they achieve.”
in special needs education. “There’s
been a change from a culture of Grant for growth
care to a culture where people
believe our chil- St Francis Church of England
dren can learn, Primary School, Taw Hill has been
Mayor Steve Wakefield with some of the entrants in the naming competition
make progress awarded a government grant of
There had been a shortage of The two new rooms were offi- and achieve no £1.2m to go towards building an
classroom space and, with no- cially opened by Mayor of Swindon matter what extension.
where to work with small groups Steve Wakefield after pupils were their disability. In September, two reception
of children, teaching assistants and set the challenge of coming up with It’s been a long classes started and older children
music teachers were forced to use a name for them. hard struggle,” moved into mobile classrooms. The
the corridors. Thomas Barber chose Woodpeck- said Bob. extra places were agreed by school
The school on Chartwell Road, er because it appears on the school He paid tribute to Swindon governors on the understanding
was built four years ago and logo and Chloe Pearst continued Council for making special needs that a permanent extension will
has been expanded with mobile the school’s theme of naming class- provision a priority. “Swindon has be built.
classrooms to provide desperately rooms after trees by proposing the invested heavily in special schools “The grant is a significant step
needed places for North Swindon other room be called Acorn. and that speaks volumes for the but we still need commitment from
children. Ironically, it may not have Headteacher Jo Garton said ambition of the authority.” the local authority to top it up,” said
been built at all if the council had teaching assistants will be able to With Brimble settled in its new headteacher Clive Westall.
agreed with former local councillor work with children who need a little home, Mr Walker says the time is Outline plans for the £5 million
Owen Lister who, in 1999, recom- extra help or who would benefit right to retire. “It’s time to stop. project have been drawn up and
mended that the school would not from some more challenging work. I’m at the pinnacle of my hopes include seven classrooms, a second
be necessary because of the provi- “Previously, we had no small group and dreams and believe in quitting hall and possibly a children’s centre.
sion of new primary schools built rooms and they are so important in while you’re ahead.” Building work would need to begin
by the PFI programme. education now.” Assembly on the last day of term in 2010/11.

1 - 21 January 09 Extreme.indd 14 15/12/08 09:59:29