Page 16 - link magazine

Education News

Head comes to school with positive outlook Fantasy game from young imaginations

Aysha Akif is full of enthusiasm knew I wanted to be part of it,” said now available for mobile
for her new role as headteacher at Aysha. “The children are absolutely
Oakhurst Primary School. delightful and the staff team is so
Recognising that she has a big act positive. Dale ensured I met parents
to follow, after the school’s first ever and children in meetings, in the
head Dale Burr departed for a post classroom and at the school gate.
in the USA, she said the time spent It was great preparation to lead the
with him last term was invaluable. team.”
“Oakhurst is a beautiful school; as Aysha has been a teacher for
soon as I visited for the interviews I 11 years after switching from a
marketing and communications
position at a company in
Cheltenham where she comes from.
Looking at sales figures all day was
not a patch on the experience of a
day volunteering in a school. She
said: “Those few hours in school
were incredibly rewarding and I The team launching Binary: Decoded on 12 August
knew the direction I wanted to go.
“I have a positive energy for Students from three Swindon Game players follow the journey of
helping children grow and develop schools have launched an a 14 year old experimental android
as good people and that’s what I’m interactive, illustrated sci-fi ebook called Pye as she discovers her true
New in North Swindon, Aysha Akif bringing to Oakhurst.” game app for mobile devices. identity and help save her from the
Called Binary: Decoded the compassionless RestructorBot.
The students worked with Swindon
Learn how to use computers and iPads youngsters from the physical based not-for-profit electronic
impairment unit at Commonweal
Swindon Libraries are offering free courses for beginners who want to School, Crowdys Hill Special School media educators Digital Writes
learn how to use the internet, using your own laptop or a library computer, and the media club at Lydiard to create the game which is now
from September at Central, North Swindon, West Swindon and Park Library. Park Academy collaborated over available from App Store and Google
There will also be iPad courses in the same venues. No previous three months, delving into their Play for £1.49.
experience is necessary, all ages are welcome, there are no exams or tests, imaginations to write, illustrate and The project was supported by Arts
just lots of support and encouragement in a friendly atmosphere. perform a story about a world where Council England, Swindon Does Arts
Visit one of the libraries for details and to register or contact Joanne robots rule and humans have been Read the full story at:
Gahan on 01793 707129 or 07823 525461. discarded. www.bit.ly/DW-Pye

16 swindonlink.com n September 2016

NW September 2016 Master Pages.indd 16 18/08/2016 16:55