Page 16 - link magazine

16 swindonlink.com • March 2011
West secondary school set to become an academy

Governors at Greendown Community School in West Swindon have set in motion a three month consultation process that could result in a
change in status and a new name.
Parents, staff and partner primary central government, including about egories - outstanding or good with In the Swindon area, The Ridge-
schools are being asked for views on £450,000 extra that is currently top outstanding features. It’s a feather way Wroughton, Highworth Warne-
whether the school should become sliced by Swindon Council for the in Greendown’s cap and illustrates ford, Wootton Bassett, Farmors
an academy after it was invited by services it provides. the huge improvements the school Fairford and Malmesbury schools
the Department for Education to Headteacher Clive Zimmerman has achieved in the last ten years. have also been invited to become
change its status. said he was proud the school had “Academy status not only pro- academies. Nationally around 1 in
This will mean that the school been invited to apply for academy vides funds to be used in ways we 10 secondary schools will have the
will cut its management ties with status. “Unlike the former govern- think will help us become consis- new status by the start of the new
Swindon Council and become en- ment’s system of closing failing tently outstanding in all areas of school year in September.
tirely responsible for its budget, staff schools and relaunching them as school life, we can also operate a Mr Zimmerman said the school’s
employment, management support academies, the present government more fl exible curriculum. Part of the pastoral care and sports college
services and the school grounds in gives schools the opportunity to be- agreement is to go into partnership strengths will remain central to its fu-
Grange Park. The budget will be come academies if they are adjudged with another school in need of as- ture. “Greendown has always been
paid directly to the school from to be in Ofsted’s two highest cat- sistance to pass on good practice.” known as a caring supportive school,
closely involved in the community it
Youth MP returns to alma-mater with call to pupils to wise-up to cyber bullies serves, it’s a very important founda-
tion to what we do. And the sports
Former Greendown pupil specialism introduced in 2007 will
Carney Bonner and now remain a key area. Sport has proved
Swindon’s youth MP spent very benefi cial to pupil achievement
a day in the school to pro- and the school community, and it has
mote his anti-cyber bullying strengthened our relationship with
campaign with two of his West Swndon’s primary schools.”
campaigning team Amy He added that initial reaction from
Pricter and Matthew Ryan. staff and parents to the change in
Their message was to not school status has been positive. The
cross the line online as hurt- consultation period takes place until
ful comments via web sites mid-April when the governing body
and texting can ruin lives. will make a decision.
See details of the cam- Greendown currently has 1,050
paign at www.battlefront. pupils and has places in some year
co.uk/carney or www.face- groups.
book.com/keepingitsafe- www.greendown.swindon.sch.uk
online Latest school stop for Carney, centre right, with Amy and Ryan and Greendown pupils

Flying High at Greendown

Did you know that … Greendown has been
picked out as one of the country’s most improved
schools for the rise in results since 2006.

Along with other outstanding schools
Greendown has been invited to become one of the
government’s new Academies so that it can share
this good practice with others.

Our growing success is built around excellent
results in English, maths and science where our
pupils make much greater progress than in the
majority of schools.

If you are interested in sending your child to
Greendown, why not arrange a visit?
Contact our dedicated Primary Liaison
Coordinator, Mrs Proctor, on 01793 758814.

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