The organisation which will run the new Croft Primary School as an independent academy has been confirmed by the Department for Education, and parents are being reminded that Croft is one of their potential options when applying for school places for their children.
The new school, which under government rules must be an Academy, will be managed by the Swindon-based White Horse Federation of Schools.
All junior and primary school place applications in the Borough must be submitted by 15 January 2012 for children starting school in September 2012. Croft had not been given the planning go-ahead when the application process opened.
The council’s school admissions team will be hosting a drop-in session for parents at Croft Sports Centre on Wednesday 4 January between 5.00pm and 7.00pm. This will offer support and help with the admissions process, and information about how parents can apply for schools in the Old Town area, including Croft. Representatives from the White Horse Federation will be there to give help and advice on the new school.
Cllr David Renard, Swindon Borough Council Cabinet member for children’s services, said: "I’m very pleased the Government has confirmed the White Horse Federation as the organisation that will run the new Croft school.
"They have an excellent record and an ethos that I’m sure will appeal to parents. There is a clear demand for a school in this area, so it’s vital that parents can have confidence in the standard of education their children will receive if they put Croft down as one of their options."
Nick Capstick and Lauren Connor, co-executive head teachers with the White Horse Federation, said: "On behalf of the White Horse Federation we are delighted to be offered this opportunity to make the new Croft Primary School a shining example of quality first education in Swindon."
The council is urging parents to make sure they put down a second and third choice of school when they apply, in case their first choice school is oversubscribed. All applications received up to the deadline date will be considered together using the same criteria – they are not dealt with on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Applications received after the deadline may significantly increase the risk of the council being unable to offer places for any of the preferred schools.
Parents who have submitted their applications online, but now wish to include Croft as one of their options, can re-submit an altered online application up to the deadline.
For full details about applying for school places please see Primary School Places and Secondary School Places.