Picture: MATTHEW SWINGLER Ref: 76811-25MANY schools in Swindon will be knocked down and re-built as part of a multi-million pound 'apology' for years of failure.

Yesterday education bosses admitted letting Swindon's children down and vowed to pull their socks up.

Giving a sketch of plans for a half billion pound spending blitz on schools, Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw & Nine Elms) lead member for education said pupils and their teachers deserve better.

"Over the next ten years we want to replace all school buildings," he said.

"Unless we provide the best possible facilities we will not see any improvement. We have to start thinking smartly."

Coun Perkins' comments came as developers, Equion, were officially welcomed on board the council's £100 million Northern Schools Development.

Teams have already begun clearing ground in Akers Way, Moredon ready for a new Hreod Parkway School building, which is due to open in spring 2007.

It's one of seven new schools being built in the area.

Over the next two years, More-don Infants and Junior Schools will be amalgamated and rebuilt north of Akers Way.

A new primary school will be built at Haydon End Lane in Hay-don Wick, and four other schools will be built on a 32-acre learning campus at Priory Vale.

Coun Perkins said parents should not fear the changes.

"People tend to be suspicious of change whether that's our fault I don't know.

"We don't want schools to be just schools that are open between 9am and 4pm.

"They are community buildings and ideally I would like to see them open 24-hours a day seven days a week."

Swindon Council made it clear that residents would not have to foot the giant bill.

"Money from the sale of existing sites would be reinvested into the project," said Coun Perkins.

"We would also seek to get grants from the Government."

Hreod Parkway opened in 1983 after being formed by the amalgamation of Hreod Burna and More-don Secondary schools. Many of the buildings date from the 1950s and 60s. Designers of the new-look Hreod Parkway have done away with giant teaching blocks.

Branching off a glass-roofed atrium set in between trees will be five wings containing classrooms.

By June, the school should know if its bid for Specialist School Status in science and maths with computing is successful.

Headteacher Andrew Fleet said it would be the icing on the cake.

"This is a very exciting time for us," he said.

"With this building we will be in a position to offer exciting learning opportunities for the 21st century."

Kevin Shoesmith