Plans for North Swindon schools taking shape

Work on the first of the two secondary schools to serve North Swindon will start this summer. Hreod Parkway School headteacher Andrew Fleet describes the progress behind the scenes to create educational facilities for the future.

Hreod Parkway School is one of a number of schools in North Swindon within a Private Finance Initiative programme supported by central government and Swindon Borough Council.

• A modern, light, stimulating learning environment;
• flexible classrooms;
• accessibility to all parts of the building for pupils and staff;
• wide corridors and circulation routes;
• effective social and recreation areas;
• attractive external play areas;
• community facilities;
• a high-tech. building with information and communication technology throughout.

These are just some of the things that the staff and pupils of Hreod Parkway School are looking forward to moving into the state-of-the-art premises on one site off Akers Way in 2006. Building will take place in a field alongside the school's existing south site which will avoid disruption to the normal working of the 11-16 school of 1,240 pupils.

The last few months have been spent by Swindon Borough councillors, officers, headteachers and governors meeting with the short-listed bidding teams who are seeking to win the contract for the buildings and facilities management of the new schools to be developed under the PFI scheme. It is hoped that the successful contractor will be chosen by the end of April, so enabling the building of the two secondary schools (Hreod and one other at the Learning Campus in Priory Vale), primary schools and special schools that form a part of this exciting project.

We stand to see some of the best equipped schools at the centre of our communities. It is all about giving future generations of children the best opportunities available. We are looking forward to working in close partnership with the successful contractor.

Over the next two years the school has plans for developing art work to enhance the new building as well as applying for specialist school status in 'Science and Mathematics with Computing' with an aim to realise this by the date of opening.

We are very fortunate in having a wonderful environmental site provided for the new school, that is easily accessed by the existing community and residents of future planned housing. We would want to make the most of and protect this beautiful natural area and to use it as a learning opportunity. We will continue to value the work with our existing link primary schools to ensure that children move smoothly between the phases of their education and share in the new facilities.

Hreod Parkway will be collaborating with the new Learning Campus (secondary school, primary school and two special schools) at Priory Vale, as well as other secondary schools in the town, to share the good educational practice already established and to ensure that the facilities add something extra to the community at large.

While it is not buildings that make an effective school the staff and pupils at Hreod Parkway have no doubt that the new school will create pride and high aspirations and will enhance the continuing improvement in standards seen in recent years.