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Flashmob sends tearful head into retirement Great Western

Staff, children and parents at Orchid Academy delay
Vale sprung a surprise on head- Hopes that a new secondary school
teacher Debbie Kalynka at sports in North Swindon would be ready by
day in the last week of term in July September 2016 have been dashed
when they leapt into mass dance as work to secure land to build it
action to Mark Ronson’s hit Uptown has not been completed.
Funk. Earlier this year bids from New
In complete secrecy classes had College to run a free school in
been rehearsing for several weeks, North Swindon, and another by the
but Mrs Kalynka had been offsite a Diocese of Bristol education board
bit as she was also executive head to manage a school in South Swin-
responsible for school improvement don were agreed by the Department
at Nythe Primary School, which she of Education.
left in 2006 to launch Orchid Vale. A statement from New College
“It was really overwhelming to Debbie Kalynka, above, taken aback by the sports day dance for her on the New School North Swindon
see the whole school leap up and benefit. Below, getting ready for Orchid Vale in April 2006 Facebook page says: ‘We will not be
start dancing in front of me,” said able to open Great Western Acad-
Debbie. “I knew there had been Swindon so temporary buildings in; I’ve had a wonderful time at emy in September 2016 as planned.
rehearsals but didn’t realise it was sprung up and in September last Orchid Vale and would like to thank The Department for Education has
all going to be coordinated for my year they were replaced by a large the great staff and governors for not yet purchased the land for the
benefit. It was lovely to see parents extension to provide for two forms their support.” school.
that I’ve known since the first day of entry and almost 400 pupils. ‘We are still very much aiming for
of Orchid Vale and others who However the village atmosphere a September 2017 opening. We are
have joined more recently. I had was retained and Ofsted in 2012 incredibly sorry to disappoint those
some wonderful gifts from parents, rated the school as outstanding in parents of Year 5s who signed their
children and staff; I tried not to get all inspection areas. support and whose children will not
too emotional but the tissues were “My husband recently retired now benefit from the new school.
never far away.” from teaching and as manager of We’d like to thank you all for your
She opened Orchid Vale as a single Swindon rugby club, so after 37 help and good wishes.’
form entry school in 2006 with years in the profession we’re able to A spokesman for Swindon Council
under 100 children. At the time Mrs enjoy our first holiday during term said there are enough secondary
Kalynka said she wanted it to have time which is going to be quite places for the next two academic
a small village school atmosphere. strange,” said Debbie. “It was time years but additional capacity is
But the baby bulge hit North to move on and let new ideas come needed from September 2018.

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