Page 12 - link magazine

12 swindonlink.com • October 2009
Schools’ promise delivered

The new Millbrook Primary School has exceeded expectations according to parents and teachers who were involved in the controversy to
amalgamate Freshbrook and Windmill Hill Primary Schools in 2005.
Parents, children and quite a few sceptical that anything could be as a team working in one
grandparents visited on 8 Septem- as good as what we were losing, place,” said Anne-Marie.
ber, the day before children started. but that idea has turned out to be Gill said, “the new school
Sue Thorn, a teacher at Windmill wrong. We’re really impressed with offers a brilliant learning
Hill before joining Millbrook, a the quality of the design and the at- opportunity, it’s absolutely
past parent of Windmill Hill chil- tention to detail, the new Millbrook perfect.” She added that
dren, and also a governor there, is a fabulous building; the council headteacher Clare Griffin-
said, “the new school is excellent has done an excellent job.” Felton’s hard work should
and well worth the wait. It is a Year 5 pupil Chloe Dyer agreed, be clearly recognised. “She
super environment for children, the “My classroom is cool; the colours has worked so hard to bring
community has been given what are nice and everything looks the two schools together for
they were promised by Swindon lovely.” the future of the children. She
Council.” Teaching assistant Anne-Marie had a vision of how it could
Touring the school with his fam- Salmon and administrator Gill be done and the evidence
ily, John Dyer expressed a similar Peachey have unusual claims to can be seen now.”
viewpoint. “A lot of people were fame. Anne-Marie was present at Clare welcomed families
the opening day of to the open day with a
Freshbrook in 1981 beaming smile. “We’re all
and Gill was at the so proud of what has been
opening of Windmill achieved over the last few Long serving TAs Anne-Marie Salmon, left,
Hill in 1987. Both ex- years designing the new and Janet Hilling with Jessica Broley and Roche
Mackenzie in the reading pod
pressed excitement school, reorganising classes
at doing it all again. between different buildings whilst to set up the classrooms. Everybody
“The children who construction was going on, then un- I’ve seen is so happy to see the new
are seeing the build- packing 800 boxes in the last week Millbrook open.”
ing for the first time
are all so excited, and Shaw Ridge ethos transferred to new building
so are the staff. It’s Gail Blythin saw her three sons go through Shaw Ridge Primary School
lovely to be together
and she herself has been involved as a friend of the school and as a teach-
John and Charlotte Dyer ing assistant since 1986, a couple of months after the school opened.
with Stephanie Bird There’s no question for her, the kitchen and hope to offer on site
and their children in new version delivers. “I had a mo- hot dinners if parents are willing to
Millbrook’s breakout ment of sadness when I saw the support them.
resource room
flat area where the old school used “The architect and the council offi-
to be, then came through the front cers really listened to us at the design
door and it was ‘wow.’ It is so spa- stage. We have a school that is perfect
cious and bright with a wonderful for us; the promise to build a school
playground. It’s a super place for for the future has been kept.
the children.” “We’re also very proud of our
The pupils agreed. Aleshia Burnett Shaw Ridge ethos and I believe
said, “there’s a lot more space inside we’ve been able to establish this in
and the circular playground is lovely. the new building.”
We’re very lucky to have it.” • We incorrectly reported in the Sep-
Charlie West is also pleased with tember Link that the new green and
the playing facilities. “It’s good to cream colour scheme at the school
have the grass field back because would be reflected in a new uniform.
it was covered in tarmac when the The dark blue sweatshirt has been
building was going on.” retained but a new logo has been
Inside classrooms are arranged in adopted.
a giant horseshoe, each
with its own outdoor
activity space. Two
halls are kitted out with
giant screens and com-
puter linked projectors,
an IT suite close to the
library looks over the
playground and there
is a food technology
and craft room.
Deputy headteacher
Janet Archer said, “it’s
wonderful to have a
teachers’ work prepa-
ration room and good,
easily accessed stor-
age for resources. We
also have a fantastic
Chloe Blackmur models
the new Shaw Ridge logo
in front of the playground
seat of learning

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