Page 15 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • January 2009 15
Competition causes admissions chaos in North Swindon

The uncertainty over who will run the new primary school at Oakhurst is causing parents in the area a lot of worry and making it difficult
for other primary schools to plan for the school year starting in September.
Although Swindon Council classes, but pointed out that
and the Department of Educa- Muslim organisations have not
tion agreed in January last year had access to funding to run
that the 60 place community schools in Britain.
school could go ahead, the run- Melanie Eastwood, who was
ning of the brand new school the only Oakhurst parent to at-
was still going to be subject to tend a seminar which explained
the 2006 Education Act which the competition process in July,
required a competition so that described the public meeting
parent organisations, busi- as a ‘shambles.’ “My husband
nesses and faith bodies could and I were left in no doubt that
bid to manage it. we will not send our daughter
Swindon Council asked the to the school if it is not run by
government in July for the Majority voting in favour of the Swindon Council bid to run Oakhurst primary the council.
Oakhurst project to be excluded The school will start for Reception drawing Muslim children from “Residents are concerned that, if
from the process because of the and Year 1 children in a temporary across the town. Al-Habib are given permission to
short time-scale before it is built. building at the site on Pioneer Road, The public have until 5 January run the school, in a very short time
This was denied and after the whilst a permanent two form entry to comment or object to the two it would become a complete Islamic
September Link first revealed that school is built by Swindon Council bids. The School’s Adjudicator will school. There is already a major
the Al Habib Islamic and Cultural ready for September 2010. Because assess the applications and com- shortage of primary school places in
Centre was considering a bid to the body to manage the school has ments before making a decision. Oakhurst for local children and this
run the school, Oakhurst parents not been decided, council officers This is expected by 13 February so will result in children not getting a
with children due to start school in have been unable to involve a that parents and schools can finalise place at their local school.”
September 2009 have been apply- headteacher, governors or parents planning for next year’s intake. Parent Lizzie Fewings, who
ing for places in nearby primary in important decisions on the design At the public meeting parents started the campaign for Oakhurst
schools, rather than the new school of the building. heard that Swindon Council man- school in 2006, told the meeting that
as they were unsure places would A straw poll at a public meeting ages an integrated family of schools children from the area attend 25
be available. on 25 November, where represen- across the town in partnership with different primary schools because
It means local schools have had tatives from Swindon Council and governors and staff. they are unable to get into any of
to starting planning for Oakhurst the Al Habib Islamic and Cultural Mr Shahi Sahu of Al-Habib ac- the four closest.
children knowing that parents may Centre explained their proposals knowledged his organisation only A full report of the public meet-
suddenly choose Oakhurst primary to manage the school, overwhelm- has experience of running after- ing and the document with two
0638 BP_economy_quarter_AW:Layout 1 3/10/08 16:12 Page 1
if Swindon Council is given permis- ingly rejected the idea that Oakhurst school and weekend supplemen- proposals can be found at www.
sion to manage the school. primary should be a faith school tary mother tongue and cultural swindonlink.com

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