THE
No. 166
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March 1996
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TSP
Circulation 15,000
Swindon
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HAD AN ACCIDENT? NOT YOUR FAULT! Distributed in West Swindon, Haydon Wick, Woodhall Park & Abbey Meads
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Award for good police work A policeman has been given an award in recognition of his community work. Beat officer Roger Guy, who patrols the Abbey Meads development received an engraved hip flask at the official opening of a temporary police post on 12 February. In making the presentation, David Thompson of the Haydon Development Company, said the award was the first of its kind and would be made to those who make a significant contribution to the development and growth of the community. Roger, in providing a police presence from the very beginning of the Abbey Meads development, had provided safety and security to the companies working in the area and the people who have moved into the new houses.
Peter Bond of the HDC added that Roger is an excellent communicator and had created a very good liaison with the building workers
David Thompson of the Haydon Development Company presents Roger Guy with his award
GM opt-out bid no excuse to select A school that wants to become Grant Maintained will not become selective says the chair of the governing body. Ridgeway school parents will be asked to vote on whether the school should become self-governing and receive funding directly from the government in a ballot commencing on 7 March. But Chris Gale, the chair of the governing body, says that the move to breakaway from local authority control and become a grant maintained school is purely aimed at protecting the school's sixth form. The governors are worried that the new Swindon authority, which takes over responsibility for education in April 1997, will attempt to close the sixth form at some point in the future. "The Education Service Profile drawn up by Thamesdown clearly states that Sixth Form provision is a significant policy issue for review," said Mrs Gale.
"Ridgeway is the only school in Swindon with a sixth form; we believe it is under great threat. It is just not logical for a local authority to retain a single sixth form when there are two good further education colleges in the town. "We know Swindon does not have any immediate plans to change 16 to 18 education. But it is our responsibility now to put the question to parents who value the sixth form and choose Ridgeway because of it." However Sue Bates, Leader of Thamesdown Council, denies the sixth form could be closed. "Parents have already gone through two ballots and have rejected grant maintained status for Ridgeway School. We have no plans to scrap the sixth form. It makes no sense economically or educationally to do that." Continued on page 2
and sales staff on site. A surprised Roger Guy said he was very pleased to receive the recognition. "All I'm doing is everyday beat work and have been in the ideal position of helping a prestige development come into being."