CHILDREN at crumbling schools in Moredon should be attending classes in new buildings within a year and a half.

And two schools catering for children with special needs Uplands in Penhill and Brimble Hill in Park North, will move to a new Learning Campus in Redhouse Way, North Swindon.

Swindon Council has formally announced its intention to merge Moredon Infants and Junior Schools, situated in Akers Way, and re-locate two schools catering for children with special needs.

The plans are part of an £85 million private finance initiative scheme being used to build seven new schools.

Moredon Junior School has had problems with leaky roofs and ill-fitting windows, an ancient boiler and damp.

Essential repairs have been carried out but accommodation was still found to be unsatisfactory in the latest Ofsted report, which otherwise praised the school for providing a good standard of education.

A new school catering for 420 children, aged between five and 11, will be built south of Moredon Road, in the northeast corner of the current Hreod Parkway school split site.

Moredon school governors had feared the new school would be built south of Akers Way, at Hreod's other site, which would increase the risk of accidents if children had to cross the road during rush hour.

But Ian Cooke, chairman of governors, is happy with latest proposal.

"We are delighted with the decision. We didn't want the school south of Akers Way because of access problems for younger children and it would take the school further away from our catchment area.

"We saw the north east corner of the existing playing fields of Hreod as ideal."

People can make an objection or comment on the proposals by writing to Paul Blackmore, Education, Sanford House, Sanford Street, Swindon, SN1 1QH or email pblackmore@Swindon.gov.uk

Garry Perkins, (Con, Shaw & Nine Elms), the lead member for education, said the council hopes that more changes may be on the way.

"We have put a bid in for the Government's Schools For The Future scheme and if we are successful it would mean building new secondaries throughout the town," he said.

Bhavani Vadde