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Closures harm literacy

THE furore surrounding the letter from Bradley Simmons, Ofsted’s regional director, about the poor performance of Swindon’s schools has resulted in a shocked and defensive response from school heads and local MPs.

Literacy standards are apparently well below the national average.

With the pending closure of 11 of our libraries and service reduction in the remaining four, literacy levels are unlikely to improve.

Local schools are dependent on branch libraries where they do not have school libraries.

The council’s proposals fail to comply with the central government vision that public library authorities should be achieving higher, not lower, standards of provision.

Upper Stratton, Pinehurst, Penhill and Parks libraries, for instance, serve some of the most deprived areas of Swindon.

Schools make class visits to access books and library staff encourage children to read for pleasure, which makes a difference to those whose literacy skills are below average.

A direct impact of closures will be on children’s literacy and will make low literacy rates and joblessness in the area worse.

Libraries provide vital support for children, young people and families, particularly: improved language skills for under-fives through shared reading and story times, improved performance by early years and primary school pupils through access to free books and on-line educational resources, children’s events and parenting collections, and access to a much greater range of free books and other materials than families can afford to buy.

Simmons urges those in leading and supporting schools to bring about ‘rapid and sustained improvements.’

Libraries could, and should, pay a pivotal role in working with schools to devise and implement a shared strategy to improve literacy skills across the borough.

This will not be possible if the council goes ahead with its plans – don’t our children deserve better?

DEBORAH BUTLAND

Save Swindon’s Libraries campaign group

Windrush

Highworth

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Judges’ bizarre rulings

THE recent controversy involving the High Court judges challenging the Government, on what appears to be a an obscure law technicality regarding Brexit, could possibly constitute political interference.

Or, possibly, these learned gentleman are seeking to reassert judicial authority.

Thanks to the press, revelations of the findings and sentences in the courts, by some thoroughly liberalised judges have been quite amusing, to say the least – more befitting to a script of Carry On Judge rather than in a court of law.

How strange that such a deeply conservative institution, so highly sensitive to criticism, and challenge to its authority, finds the hierarchy of the Supreme Court totally muted regarding the practice of Sharia Law in this country which, although clandestine, is allowed to flourish within the Muslim community with utter indifference and contempt for the laws of this land.

GEORGE HUMPHREYS

Purton

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Bring on the remakes

I WAS watching an old film the other evening when a thought occurred. Wouldn’t it be interesting to remake some of the old films with some of our well known personalities?

Reds, starring Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow cabinet. The Blair Witch Project starring Tony and Cherie. One Missed Call, starring Theresa May and Donald Trump. The Bogeyman, starring David Cameron and directed by George Osborne. The Last Laugh, starring Nigel Farage.

Titanic, starring Juncker as the captain with the remaining European leaders after Brexit playing the band on the deck with David Davis, Boris Johnson and Liam Fox in charge of the lifeboats.

The Odd Couple, starring Nick Clegg and Tim Farron.

The Departed, starring all the MPs and Lords and Ladies who oppose Brexit regarding the implementation of Article 50.

The Illusionist, starring Nicola Sturgeon and directed by Alex Salmond. The Bulldog Breed, starring every Brexit voter in the United Kingdom. Two Minute Disaster, starring the England team that should have beaten Spain on Tuesday night, directed by Gareth Southgate.

Taking Chances, starring the Scotland team that England beat last week, directed by Gordon Strachan.

Hoping this is taken by all in the jesting manner it is intended in as the festive season swiftly draws near.

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way, Covingham

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Trump right on climate

PRESIDENT Elect Donald Trump believes that man-made global warming is a hoax which has been promoted to damage US industry.

The temperature of the earth is not stable. There have been five major Ice Ages. Between these major Ice Ages there have been hundreds of glacial periods.

During each glacial period the polar ice expands from the North Pole and spreads southwards to cover parts of northern Europe.

The most recent glacial period ended about 10,000 years ago. There are many explanations for these huge climate changes, including the activity of super-volcanoes such as the one under Yellowstone National Park in the USA.

Donald Trump is correct to be sceptical about man-made climate change because it is perfectly normal for the temperature of the earth to change over time.

Scientists are obliged to follow the Group Think of the day. Any scientist brave enough to speak out against the conventional wisdom of the day will soon find himself unemployed.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green, Swindon

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Osborne isn’t cherubic

WHAT a delightful photo of old Etonian, ex-Chancellor George Osborne recently in the national newspapers, picking up his gong with a big smile spread across his cheeky, cherubic face!

It was awarded by his old Right Honourable chum, Cameron, who according to academics will go down as the worst Prime Minister this country has ever had. Perhaps he’ll even enter the Guinness Book of Records?

All smiles was our George – he who once announced that ‘ We are all in this together’ while renting out his plush London apartment for £60,000 a year. Kept mum about that, didn’t he? Very right and honourable!

George received the Companion of Honour, ranking him above knights and held by only 65 other UK recipients – only the best for Cameron’s chum.

Of course, George did put some work towards it, let’s be fair to the man. For instance, while Chancellor of the Exchequer, he worked it out nicely for Liz et al when he put a clause into a piece of legislation that shielded Buckingham Palace residents from public spending cuts (unlike the rest of us). It also made sure that the Queen would get a massive pay rise every year, because as he said, ‘the country cannot afford it.’

He nodded and bowed, she winked.

As we can see George has certainly ‘earned’ his gong and congratulations are certainly in order.

As the saying runs: Under every stone (or is it cow pat?) lurks a politician waiting to serve us.

JEFF ADAMS

Bloomsbury, Swindon.

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Market on Saturday

THANK you for your brief about Wanborough Farmers’ Market. Unfortunately, the date is wrong (my fault). Although there was a market on December 17, the next one is this Saturday, November 19, 9am to midday.

SUE BIRLEY

Marsh Cottage

Wanborough