West Swindon Schools
April 21st, 2005Throughout the last week or so, I have been talking to parents and governors of Salt Way School. There is a problem with surplus school places in West Swindon primary schools, and several months ago a consultation process was launched by the Council.
Parents, governors and staff have been thrown into confusion and uncertainty. As a Parliamentary Candidate, I suppose I could have folded my arms and sat back not wishing to get involved in Council affairs. I thought that this would be the wrong approach. Parents from a variety of schools have written to me, e-mailed me and telephoned me with queries, comments and views. I have been trying to help local residents because I believe that they deserve not to have their intelligence insulted. All too often in this process, that is precisely what has been happening.
This week, I have been criticised by some parents at Salt Way School for being hypocritical by supporting schools mentioned in my election literature. The truth is that I was merely reporting that I had worked with parents from particular schools. The problem with insufficient school places referred to in my leaflet is relevant to Old Town and North Swindon, for
example. None of this means that I have taken sides against ANY primary school in West Swindon.
It seems to me that the proposal to close Salt Way at the end of this year would endanger the education of its children. Such a sudden closure, in the middle of a school year, can only cause maximum disruption, surely? The school’s facilities are excellent - probably the best school building in the area. Parents, staff and children should not have to bear the consequences of the Local Education Authority’s failure to deal with the growing problem of empty school places.
I was governor of a comprehensive school that had been earmarked for closure. This process took several years, until the last year that had started at the school completed their GCSEs. Teachers who were coming close to retirement chose to work at the school, and there was the minimum possible disruption. That is how you close a school. What about clustering Salt Way with, say Brookfield? The head teacher at Brookfield could assume responsibility for staff and pupils still operating at the Salt Way site. This has been done in rural schools, with some success.
