Drop in family size delays North secondary school build as parents continue to send children to school in neighbouring county

Lack of children moving into North Swindon and fewer than expected babies being born in the area were two of the reasons given by Swindon's director of education, Hilary Pitts, for yet another delay in the start on a secondary school in the area, at a meeting arranged by Blunsdon and Haydon Wick Parish Councils on 19 September.

The £58 million private finance initiative project to rebuild Hreod Parkway, create an education campus including a new secondary school, a primary school and two special schools at Priory Vale and rebuild Moredon Primary School on Akers Way, is to start by the middle of 2004.

The new Hreod, combined as one 11 to 16 school is planned to open by December 2005.

The main contention at the public meeting was the opening date of the North Swindon school at Priory Vale, known as S1. Parents pressed for a September 2006 opening date, which is three years later than many were led to believe when they bought their houses at Abbey Meads.

However Ms Pitts said the latest survey of children in the area requiring secondary education does not make the school financially viable until September 2007 when there will be around another 100 children leaving primary school.

National and local data shows that the average number of children in a family has dropped from 2.5, which was used for school planning in the past, to about 1.7.

Ms Pitts said the build programme is on course to start in mid-2004, and the opening date for Hreod had been agreed. However the independent School Organisation Committee would express its preference at the end of the year on the S1 opening date, based on a wide range of considerations. After further consultation, the final decision would not be made until March next year.

The financial issues are a major problem. Funding of schools is based on the number of children in attendance, but at secondary level all subjects have to be staffed adequately. If S1 were to open in 2006 with too few children it would mean considerable subsidy from the education budget and other schools in the town could lose out.

Also present was Hreod Parkway headteacher Andrew Fleet who said he and his staff are impatient to relaunch the school in new buildings on one site. He acknowledged the frustrations of parents whilst pointing out that pupils at Hreod had recently exceeded the national average in SAT tests and the rise in GCSE passes had put the school in the top 100 most improved schools in England and Wales.

After the meeting parent Ian Dallow from Abbey Meads said he was angry about the situation and felt powerless. "We moved here six years ago on the understanding a secondary school would be built in 2003. My son is due to move up in September 2004 and we feel we cannot get the best for him."

One local primary headteacher said many parents had the same feelings and at least six had moved house to areas where there is greater choice of school.

Parent Helen Miah said she was extremely frustrated by the lack of answers to the basic questions about choosing a school. "I don't want to wait until next March for a decision on S1 so that I can work out what is best for my children in either September 2006 or 2007.

"A secondary school in North Swindon will be a major cornerstone in the development of our community and we need it as soon as possible. My two major worries are that North Swindon is losing intelligent parents who are sending their children out of the area, and that the successful PFI company will build the school and it will be mothballed by the Local Education Authority until the money is available to run it."

Three private companies are currently assembling proposals for building and managing the package of North Swindon schools for the next 25 years, within the PFI scheme, and the preferred bidder will be announced at the end of the year.

Abbey Meads councillor Justin Tomlinson said Swindon Council had made it clear that they want S1 to open in 2006 but now that education is run by separate organisations, the decision will be made by an independent body.

Chair of the S1 governing body Neil Askins said he was surprised by the lack of passion or anger at the meeting, but recognised many people were resigned to having little say in the decisions. "We want to see S1 opening soon after Hreod in 2006. It would reduce the potential for chaos as a result of some parents transferring children to a school nearer their homes and would help Hreod plan for the future. Swindon has to find a way to underwrite S1 from 2006."




Flight to Farmors School continues



When Julie Little from St Andrew's Ridge decided in late 2000 that she would not accept the offer of a place at Hreod Parkway or Headlands for her son, she did not realise how many other parents would join her in a search for alternatives outside Swindon.

Luckily for them Farmors School at Fairford in neighbouring Gloucestershire had capacity to expand and take on another 86 children from September 2001. The number travelling from North Swindon rose to around 130 this September.

However parents who decide that their children should make the twelve mile trip to the Gloucestershire school also have to find £435 per year to cover transport costs.

"It is very disappointing and frustrating that the North Swindon school is delayed yet again," said Julie. "Parents are committed to getting the best for their children and despite the dedication of the teachers at Hreod, our designated secondary school, the exam results and other aspects of the school do not meet our expectations."

Another Farmors' parent, Anaya Janjuha from Ash Brake, said she and her family had moved to the area five years ago when her daughter Sonica started in Year 1 at primary school and was told that a secondary school would be built within three years.

Her son has just started at Haydonleigh School and Anaya is not convinced that he will get the chance to attend the proposed new school in another five years time.