IT will be the end of an era next month when the former Headlands School site is demolished as part of the new £30m Swindon Academy campus.
The bulldozers are due to move in on December 12, but before then former pupils will be saying goodbye to the institution which opened its doors as Headlands Grammar School back in 1952.
The history of the school can be traced back to the 19th century, but it was in the 1950s that Headlands Grammar School came into being and later became the Headlands Compre-hensive School for 11 to 16 year-olds on the northern edge of Swindon feeding primary schools in Penhill, Pinehurst, Gorse Hill and Sevenfields.
Headlands Comprehensive School closed on August 31, 2004 and on September 1, Headlands School was born. The Swindon Academy opened in September 2007 to replace Headlands School, Pinehurst Junior School and Pinehurst Infant School.
Primary school age children, who used to go to Pinehurst Junior and Infants' schools, moved in during September. Secondary school pupils, who currently study in Headlands Grove, will move in December after the final section of the building is completed.
Although secondary and primary pupils will be based at the same site, they will take lessons in different parts of the school which are linked by a secure corridor.
By December 1,500 pupils will attend the school but it is has a capacity of 1,800. The old part of the school will be packed up the week before December 11 which is the official closing day.
The Old Headlandians are planning a last goodbye to the school on Friday, November 27, when organisers are hoping that as many former pupils will attend.
“We will be celebrating and commiserating the final demise of the old school,” said one of the organisers, Vicky Newman, who was Vicky Hull.
“This reunion will be the last opportunity for our members to say goodbye to the old building and relive old times, recall old memories and swap stories of then and now, while touring the classrooms for the last time.
“We also plan to give an OHA silver cup to the Swindon Academy to be presented for future achievements.”
The evening has been organised at short notice, and so the occasion will feature an evening of drinks and nibbles.
“Although many still live in Swindon, our members are spread out far and wide, but reunions in the past have been well attended,” said Vicky , who has asked former pupils to get in touch.
For more information, contact Vicky on 01793 695484 or email: vienewman@googlemail.com or Glenys Underwood (nee Gough) on 01522 680687 or email glenys.underwood@ntlworld.com or Pauline Mobey (nee Hobbs) on 01793 877095.
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