A CRUCIAL fortnight for Swindon Council has begun with the arrival of Government inspectors from Ofsted.

A team will spend the next two weeks taking a close look at the council's education department, which disastrously failed an inspection in June 2001.

Since then a private firm, Tribal, has been brought in on a six figure contract to run the department and appoint a team of senior managers.

A committee called the Education Partnership Board was set up to oversee the department's work. Made up of senior councillors, headteachers, school governors, clergy and teaching union representatives, the EPB was unique to Swindon but it has now been followed by councils across the country.

The council's shadow lead member for education Councillor Jim D'Avila (Lab, Moredon) said the LEA's failed report of 2001 was a wake up call for all councillors.

He said: "We all acknowledge the last Ofsted report was poor. Up until then it was World War Three on the council when it came to education and the people suffering were the children.

"I believe the report will find a dramatic improvement in all areas, even in the areas that are not yet right the building blocks are in place."

Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), the current lead member for education, said: "Politics has been put on one side to ensure the best education is provided for the people of Swindon.

"Eight authorities have followed us in creating an Education Partnership Board, and I believe it is an excellent forum. We feel quite good about the upcoming report."