Page 8 - link magazine

8 swindonlink.com • August 2010
Head says farewell to Oliver Tomkins

Elizabeth Wood has stepped down after ten years as headteacher of Oliver Tomkins Church of England Junior School in Toothill but will
continue to live closeby in Grange Park.
She said she has not yet mapped out a future the dog or at West Swindon Centre and they
but hopes to rediscover hobbies like writing always speak fondly of their time at Oliver
and painting which have been buried in the Tomkins. But I must apologise to them that I
in-tray of a busy headteacher’s life. “I certainly don’t always recognise them as grown ups.”
won’t miss the mountain of paperwork and Mrs Wood said she will also miss the fabu-
government directives schools have to deal lous staff she’s worked with over the years.
with, but I am going to miss the children a “They have been a tremendous team and it’s
great deal. so gratifying that so many have moved on into
“It has been a wonderful experience help- senior positions at other primary schools.”
ing them grow and develop and the affection She added she has no plans to leave West
they show you in return will be something I Swindon. “I’ve always enjoyed living and
will always treasure. working here; it’s helped me understand the
“I often meet former pupils whilst walking issues families have experienced. And West
Swindon is a very nice place to live, I don’t know
Right, Elizabeth Wood with Year 3 children
a reason why we should go anywhere else.”
Before training as a teacher sixteen years ago
and starting at Westlea Primary, Mrs Wood was a management trainer
and also worked as an advertising salesperson for The Link magazine.
• Rhianne Cockwell, headteacher of Oliver Tomkins Infants School, will
be interim head of both infant and junior schools from September.
English, Mathematics and Science
For age 7 upwards It pays to read Swindon Link
Personal workplans West Swindon based online forum talkswindon obviously hasn’t been
Fully qualifi ed teachers reading The Link for the last four years since Freshbrook and Windmill
Hill primary schools combined as Millbrook Primary School on the former
Preparation for SATS & GCSE exams
Freshbrook site, opening last September in a completely new building.
Free assessment and fi rst lesson But a discussion at talkswindon
calls an empty and unused build-
ing on Uxbridge Road ‘Millbrook’
and suggests it could be a suitable
NEW
place where a ‘free school’ could
Childcare
be opened.
vouchers
accepted
Drawing comparisons to the
government sponsored competition
to build and run Oakhurst Primary
School in 2007 - which included a
bid from a faith group - and no doubt
trying to stir up controversy - it sug-
gests ‘Millbrook’ might be suitable
as a free school run by Muslims.
Freshbrook & Grange Park coun-
cillor Peter Greenhalgh said, “these August 2007, Emily Loveridge
BALLET - TAP - MODERN - JAZZ comments are somewhat infl amma- receives a prize for designing the
tory and unfair to staff and parents Millbrook logo from graphic artist
MUSICAL THEATRE who have worked hard to establish Ant Hodges and headteacher Clare
& RAD MAJORS Millbrook as a fantastic school serv- Griffi n-Felton
ing the whole community.” tion to families in Freshbrook and
STREET, HIP HOP & ADULT TAP Millbrook headteacher Clare contributing to the development of
Griffi n-Felton said she was disap- our community. It’s very sad that
Classes from two and half years upwards pointed to learn of the discussion. our name is being used to convey
Lessons held at Haydonleigh School, “Millbrook is a very positive, happy misleading information which we
Abbey Meads Community School, Blunsdon Village school providing a great educa- have absolutely nothing to do with.”
and also Stratton Community Centre Below, the Windmill Hill school building was vacated in summer 2009 and after
25 years, the temporary building is not fi t for purpose according to Swindon
Offi cial Dance Centre Council deputy leader Gary Perkins. “The council is looking for a buyer for
of the ISTD the site; I hope we can move forward when the economy improves.”
The land off Uxbridge Road was originally designated for housing before
offering FDI & CDE Units Wiltshire County Council had to build another primary school in the early
1980s to cope with the booming child population in the area.
Bring this advert
with you and receive the
fi rst two lessons free
Contact Sarah Watson
on 01793 524112
or 07825 543529
before 8pm

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