THE vision of Goddard Park is to remain an excellent school where every child has the opportunity and motivation to succeed. It has passionate professional teachers and skilled support staff who create a vibrant learning environment.

The school, which has had first class Ofsted reports, ensures each child makes outstanding progress. It is regarded as one of the best in the west of England. Children are challenged to develop and use their literacy, numeracy and ICT skills to a high level.

The school is now a Regional Training Centre for Apple Computers, and every child uses an iPad in their class. They then use these skills to research and communicate with other schools in the UK, in Europe, and in Africa where they have a twin school in Kenya. Last month children began to communicate by Skype with children in Nairobi. They are also developing a learning partnership with Bishopstone Primary School, so that children can have both urban and rural experiences.

As part of their work in the local community, children have formed a Rotakids group with the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town, with support for the elderly being the current focus. There are very good links with parents, and the school operates a quality day-care facility for 180 pre-school children, and a children’s centre for the Parks and Walcot East communities. This is all part of a lifelong learning approach. Several other groups are part of the Goddard Park community with partnerships that include Swindon Rugby Club and meetings of the Swindon Society later this year looking at the town’s history.

Children are proud of their school uniform. They belong to four school houses based on Swindon with the GWR (Railways), Honda and Pressed Steel (Cars), Vickers Armstrong and Spitfires (Planes), Canals and Weymouth (Water), and are keen to win the weekly House Points Trophy.

Goddard Park was the first primary academy in Swindon, and wants children to have a wide range of first-hand experiences to enhance their educational life. They recently took part in the Voice in a Million Concert in Wembley. Children attend a wide range of After-School Clubs including boys and girls football, netball, hockey, tag-rugby, choir, an award-winning dance group, film club, forest school, taekwondo, science, cookery, craft, board games, French, Spanish and German.

It has a school kitchen, which supplies school meals for lunchtimes, the Breakfast Club, and Twilights After School Club, and is very proud of its ‘Five Stars on the door’. The school grounds include a woodland, adventure zone, astro double all-weather pitches, a sports field, and an enchanted exploration zone for the early years.

Goddard Park Primary School pupils have won a number of awards, including International Schools, Healthy Schools, Awards for All, Young Carers, Eco-Schools – these are pupil groups that meet regularly to work on these topics.