THE
No. 157 • May 1995 • Circulation 15,000
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Education counts cost of parents' success led to believe there would be space the education committee agrees to for more children. provide new mobiles. The December edition of The Link Now the county's school transport bill will be increased, and the reported parental confusion about school faces overcrowding unless the number of places available at Ridgeway. The Education Department's admissions booklet for parents stated that 240 places were available. But headteacher Tom A talented youngster from Shaw will soon be taking the next step towards her dream of becoming Axon surprised many parents at a full time actress. October open evenings by giving a 'guarantee' of a place to any child rector Julia Dickinson put her forBillie Piper, 12, from Nine Elms who wanted to attend his school. ward for the auditions." has won a half-scholarship to the Letters were later sent to parAgainst 23 others at the shortlist Sylvia Young Theatre School in auditions Billie's Shakespeare ents by both the Ridgeway chair of London, having been chosen over reading, singing and dance shone governors and Wiltshire's Chief 300 other young hopefuls. through. Billie's reaction to re- Education Officer restating the The Bradon Forest School year 7 ceiving the letter offering the schol- school's intake was an agreed 240. pupil has been a member of SwinEarlier this year four derelict arship was ecstatic. "It's fantastic. don's Sixth Sense Theatre ComI've always wanted to be an ac- mobile classrooms were demolpany for several years and has pertress; it's like a dream coming true." ished and two more were earformed in many performances at Her dad, builder Paul Piper, is a marked for use at other schools. the Wyvern Theatre. She has also Now that another 28 children little dazed about the sudden appeared in several TV adverts for change in Billie's life. "A lot has are expected, Ridgeway School broadcast in the USA. happened in a short time. There chair of governors Christine Gale Billie's mother, Mandy Piper are many details to sort out, like is concerned about the pressure on said the family were delighted with the scholarship and somewhere to accommodation. "We're delighted her success. "Billie has been a performer from a very young age. A star in the family: Billie Piper with live. We hadn't planned for her to that parents have received their She's always putting on little plays her parents Mandy and Paul, and leave home at such a young age, choice of school and we will we!come their children. But we desin the living room with her brother brother and sisters, Charlie, Harley but she has the talent and we don't perately need to keep the two moand Elie want to hold her back." and two sisters and she used to biles still on site. Billie will be starting theatre help choreograph productions at "We didn't quite realise how Continued page 2 school in September. Brook Field Primary School. good she was until Sixth Sense diWiltshire County Education Committees hard pressed budget will be put under greater strain following the decision by an independent appeals panel to permit an-
other 28 children to attend Ridgeway School from September. The schools agreed annual admission limit is 240, but a group of parents argued that they had been
Big break for actress Billie
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