Page 13 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • August 2010 13
Bradon bus demand increases 6th form plan for West Swindon

Bradon Forest headteacher Len Spiers says more children Now that pupils who start Year 9 in September will be expected to
are choosing to travel to his school stay in some form of full time education or training until they reach
As readers of The Link will be aware, Swindon Council withdrew its the age of 18, Swindon schools are considering ways of providing
funding for a bus service which had run for 47 years, to all new entrants courses and training opportunities beyond GCSEs taken in Year 11.
to Bradon Forest School from September 2009. G r e e n d o w n , currently decide to
Over the last year Nova Hreod and go to Cirencester.
we have organised C ro w d y s H i l l It would do much
our own service Special School are to raise aspirations
for new entrants developing a con- in the area and is
from North and sortium called WS6 achievable within
West Swindon, with to offer courses to the timeframe of
two buses carrying West and North the Raising Par-
117 passengers. We Swindon pupils. ticipation Age leg-
have now complet- G r e e n d o w n islation.
ed arrangements headteacher Clive Mr Zimmerman
for September 2010 Zimmerman, right, explained that said, “this proposal represents
and requirements Children from a range of primary schools using the the Swindon Association of Second- a huge opportunity for all West
have more than Bradon bus service on induction days in early July ary Headteachers and the college Swindon pupils. Our goal is to offer
doubled. and West Swindon (Monday to principals agree that a single school a high quality provision that keeps
We now have 250 pupils who will Thursday), as extra curricular ac- sixth form would not be able to West Swindon students learning
travel from Swindon; the expansion tivities are an important element of add significantly to current provi- locally.”
of our service in the second year school life at Bradon Forest. This late sion. “We’ve been looking at the The proposal now being con-
means we will offer four shorter service, also provided by Ellisons, is collaborative approach for 14 to 19 sidered by Swindon Council’s
routes, all using Ellisons coaches. in addition to our free after-school education, as can be seen at places Children Services is part of the
As predicted the change in Swin- passes to use on the No 53 service like Kingswood in South Glouces- borough response to the Raising
don’s bus policy has increased the bus (Cricklade, Purton, Swindon), tershire, where pupils can access a of the Participation Age legislation
number of pupils from North Swin- which is routed into the school wide range of courses at more than which is expected towards the end
don who are able to choose Bradon grounds at various times between one learning centre. of the year.
Forest. We now have over 90 pupils 5pm and 6.30pm. “Pooling students across insti- • The June Link reported that Isam-
from the North Swindon primary If you would like further infor- tutions is also an effective way of bard School is preparing a proposal
schools including Abbey Meads, mation about our Bradon Forest maintaining less popular courses to create 6th Form provision in North
Bridlewood, Catherine Wayte, Or- bus service or admissions, please in tight financial times.” Swindon, possibly in new buildings
chid Vale, Red Oaks, St Francis and contact Emma Hayden on 770570 He added that the proposal would in the Tadpole Farm development,
other schools in the area. or mail: haydene@bradonforest. give a significant boost to education north of Redhouse. This has yet to
We continue to run our 4.45pm wilts.sch.uk in West Swindon and would offer be considered for outline planning
free after-school service to North www.bradonforest.wilts.sch.uk a local alternative to pupils who permission.

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