IN the world of education nothing stands still, especially in a town with an expanding population.

In the 18 years after the 1939-45 war, 27 new schools opened in Swindon to cater for the children of thousands of families who had moved here. But as new ones opened and others expanded, a few in older areas of town have closed.

They included Ferndale Road School, which opened its doors in 1907. The buildings were taken over by the College and used largely for part-time courses.

An old school in Radnor Street is now the Beds Direct showroom. Gilberts Hill School (pictured right), which closed two years ago after a long fight to keep it open, has been turned into luxury flats.

In the 1980s the sixth forms of all the area's secondary schools were closed, except for those at St Joseph's, Wootton Bassett and Ridgeway at Wroughton. Richard Jefferies school at Park North and Walcot school became New College for 16 to 18 year-olds.

Swindon now has 10 senior, 66 primary and seven special schools, educating nearly 29,000 pupils.