Poverty Stalks Swindon - But We're Better Than Average

A new national report on poverty deprivation shows the following summary details about Swindon :

• Swindon has less poverty than the national average.

• Relative poverty levels haven't changed much since 2010.

• The most deprived area in Swindon is Penhill and Upper Stratton ward.

• Swindon's relative poverty is most severe in the areas of education, skills and training.

All of this can be addressed in one fell swoop with a University of Swindon (or a a substantial regional partnership campus for another name).

Swindon Borough Council is trying to make it happen.

We need an all-out effort by everyone, SBC, MPs, heads of business, teachers and lecturers and the people of Swindon.

The Conservatives seem be rebranding themselves 'blue collar tories', maybe a populace with low levels of education, skills and training is easier politically to manage than that of the alternative?

Any population with low levels of education, skills and training will be better to handle from a politicians point of view, an educated town is a powerful town with informed residents who will challenge it's councillors and MPs.

Now that really would be a town of salubrious et industria.

By The Numbers on Croft School

A statistical analysis of Swindon Borough Council Leader Rod Bluh's weekly column from the Swindon Advertiser in which he defends the construction of the new Croft Primary School.

Frequency of words and phrases within the column -

I = 4

We = 7

OFSTED = 1

Children = 5

Class Solutions = 0

Business Opportunity = 0

Consultation = 0

Cost Overrun = 0

White Elephant Election School For Old Town

The plan to build a school at Croft in Old Town makes no sense to anyone except, you've guessed it, the ruling councillors at the top of Swindon Borough Council.

The school would be in an established part of Swindon, so the roll of pupils would be bussed in from other parts of town (which the council has tried to cut down on in recent years). In May this year, a local school was publicising it had places available for pupils and, the new school is in a part of town that top Conservative councillors are widely expected to stand as candidates in May's election.

Swindon Centric Says ; How reliable is the information that Swindon Borough Council is basing it's decision on of building a new school in an established area with questionable demographics?

Does Section 106 money from the Haydon area play a factor in being spent in Old Town?

How watertight is this decision?

Disjointed Journalism Hits The Window Pane

Yesterday's story about the Adver's coverage of town schools has been vindicated by this story from today.

Brand new modern windows, that fit in with the style of the building is a welcome step forward in standards for the school. However, why wasn't this included in yesterday's lead story to balance things up?

Swindon Centric Says ; Worst of all, no mention is made of yesterday's story in today's. Seems that joined-up-journalism still has yet to reach 100 Victoria Road.

...But Not A Penny To Teach

But in the other council area, the Education Department, Swindon can't be too pleased with the amount of money it has to spend.

Swindon has been allocated £300 less per pupil to spend on education provision than the national average. Although the amount of money is going up each year until 2010, it still means we are in the twenty worst funded councils in the nation.

Swindon Centric Says ; Does the Council still have the money it promised to parents was available for school rebuilding several years ago?

School Age Children Need School Places Shock!

You'll recall the chaos, doubt and worry caused by the closing, merging and threats made to the existence of Swindon schools that seems to have haunted classrooms this year?

Well, many of the changes were, we continually were told, to ensure the town would not be left with surplus places in years to come.

It'll seem rather stupid for the council to admit then that it is struggling to cope with pupil demand in the Northern Development. As Councillor Garry Perkins said "we are trying to play catch up with where children are".

Swindon Centric Says ; Who did Mr Perkins and the council think would be moving into the four and five bedroom family houses being built either side of Thamesdown Drive for the past five years? How can they be trusted to get the numbers right after the appalling way schools in other parts of town have been treated?

Town Centre Teaching ; UWE Heads For North Star

After just a short period of quiet, the University Of The West Of England has signed an agreement with the Council to draw up detailed plans for a campus at North Star.

The site will cater for up to 3000 students, with strong ties to local, Swindon based businesses.

Swindon Centric Says ; Some have said this campus wouldn't be 'big university' sized, compared to other places. Perhaps Swindon could set a new trend, with a half a dozen universities with small campuses in the town?

Swindon ; Striving to be different?

Swindon's Own Fame Academy To Be Built At A Bargain Price

The town's Schools Organisation Committee last night voted to build the Headlands Academy in the town on the site of the current Headlands Secondary School.

Despite huge opposition from councillors, parents and even teachers that this is a huge, untested gamble with Swindon's children's education, the Education Department of the Council have got their way. Of course they need the money to build the thing first.

The price you might ask?

To build a fab new shiny academy?

A mere £35million.

So, the building work will....Hold On One New York Minute!

'A mere £35 million', for an academy? A SCHOOL!

You could build about a dozen decent smaller schools all over town for that much, or rebuild a couple of leisure centres.

Or a light-rail system, a couple of care homes, build a huge civic centre, invest in an arts programme.

But our local authority has decided to build ONE school, ONE!

Well if it is built, it'll probably be the country's most expensive school.

One things for sure, for that price the school dinners won't get moaned at by Jamie Oliver.

For that much they should get four courses and wine, the students that is.