Oakfield School opens its doors to community (From Swindon Advertiser)

Oakfield School opens its doors to community

1:00pm Wednesday 16th September 2009

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A NEW school has brought out the artistic side of more than 150 people.

Oakhurst Primary School in Pioneer Road opened its doors to the community on Saturday.

Parents, neighbours and children joined forces to create a large 3D artwork to decorate a blank wall which encloses the school.

Forty-five children are being taught in two mobile classrooms while the school’s new £7m building is being erected.

Headteacher Dale Burr said: “We are opening up as a community school. Our new school will have community facilities so we aim to involve the community in as many ways as possible.

“We wanted to do a group project involving parents and thought it would bring benefits to children’s learning.”

About 170 people painted wooden circles with designs, including butterflies, ladybirds, badgers and trees.

Artist group No Added Sugar helped organise the project.

Mr Burr said: “To have that many people turn up is quite phenomenal.

“We have had parents whose children have not started the school yet attend. The turnout was unbelievable.

“Lots of parents have fought and fought for this school so they want to be involved in every step.”

Oakhurst began life last week after Swindon Council won a bidding battle against an Islamic group which had planned to create a faith school on the site.

The rival bid from the Al Habib Islamic Centre was heavily rejected in favour of a community school in February.

Oakhurst Primary School and Nursery will have places for up to 420 pupils aged five to 11.

Plans for school facilities include the construction of 16 classrooms, two halls, three community rooms, a sports field and bike shelters.

Mr Burr said: “We can see the building going up behind us. Children are delighted and parents are being really supportive. Everyone is keen to get involved.

“We are showing the children the plans and asking them to come up with ideas. We want to get the children’s views on what they want.”

Mr Burr said she hoped the children will be able to move into the new building by May.

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