Although it does not sound of particular interest to us in Purton, Swindon Borough Council is shortly concluding a consultation regarding the provision of secondary school places. This is obviously a response to the new housing developments.
Several options are being explored and the one of keen interest to Purton is the potential to extend the catchment area for Bradon Forest School to include parts of Swindon. Bradon Forest itself could expand to accommodate more Swindon pupils. If Swindon was included (in Bradon Forest’s catchment) and the school began to become successful then it is possible that the school would need to be enlarged.
This would be a good time now to draw some lines in the sand. Bussing children around makes no sense. It is costly in money (taxpayers) time (parents and guardians) and increases greenhouse gas emissions unnecessarily (bad for our future climate).
The sensible thing is for more efficient use of existing school places in Swindon, and new builds in Swindon itself, to deal with Swindon’s new developments.
Spending tens of thousands of pounds (or hundreds of thousands if bussing to Bradon Forest) is money spent poorly in the long term. It is money not being spent on education itself. It would be plain daft.
Bradon Forest School already creates severe congestion in Purton twice a day, and adding to that is also pretty daft. Many years ago, when the school was up for expansion, it was argued by the parish council and many others that endless enlargement was an unsustainble proposition. So it has proved.
If you wish to comment, the consultation is here http://www.swindon.gov.uk/secondaryplaces . The deadline for comment is next Friday, 6 December 2013.
