Ref. 75562-148A HEADTEACHER is hoping to create the first specialist maths, science and computer school in Swindon.

Andrew Fleet of Hreod Parkway has applied to the Government's department for education for his school to become Swindon's first specialist college in science and maths with computing.

Mr Fleet said: "This is about raising achievement for all youngsters. We want to provide youngsters with good skills for the 21st century and for the world of work.

"If you think about it maths, numeracy and science run through all areas of the curriculum.

"It's about using these subjects to raise achievement in all areas, not about becoming an elite specialist college."

Now is an exciting time for the school, which has recently received a glowing Ofsted report and is building a state of the art new building.

In the Ofsted report inspectors described the school as "good" and praised it for having "far-sighted leadership provided by the headteacher". Mr Fleet said: "We were particularly pleased that the inspectors endorsed our own self evaluation and said that we were honest about the strengths and weaknesses of the school.

"This means that our planning is well founded and we will not become complacent."

The Ofsted inspectors also praised Hreod Parkway's After School Enrichment Programme, one of the biggest in the south-west, used by 1000 pupils every week.

Mr Fleet said: "You name it we do it.

"We have booster classes in science, drama and maths and clubs for mountain bike riding, jewellery making, chess and a school magazine.

"That has really helped the learning ethos.

"It means the pupils are working with staff in different contexts."

The school will be moving onto its new site, adjacent to its current one, in 2006.

It has facilities for computers throughout the building, a drama studio and a TV studio for media students and a central atrium big enough for 1000 people.

"We are disadvantaged on the current site, " said Mr Fleet.

"In the report inspectors recognised the problems we have with poor accommodation and punctual starts to lessons arising from this. We are greatly looking forward to the opening of our new school on one site in 2006.

"This will give us state of the art facilities, a much greater sense of unity and further means to success and widening opportunities for our pupils.

"The endorsement of Ofsted gives us confidence and a firm foundation to approach these exciting developments."

Diana Milne