We are delighted to confirm that our successful exchange with the French Collège Clos-Chassaing in Périgueux is going ahead next year!

There will be two legs to the exchange with the French students coming over in March and our students going to Périgueux and staying with their partners in June.

This is a very exciting opportunity for Year 8 and Year 9 students to practice their French and also have lots of fun with their new French friends!

A letter with more detail will be sent out in early September; meanwhile if you would like to be considered, keep this in mind when planning for next year. If you want to know more, ask This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more detail.

On the 26th November Team F.A.I.L. from The Commonweal School were awarded the Champions Award for the South West and will go through to the UK and Ireland National final at Loughborough University on 23rd January 2010.

The challenge was called ‘Smart Move’ and was based around transportation. The eight students designed, built and programmed a robot, carried out research into transportation problems in their community; in their case problems surrounding buses and presented their findings to a group of judges. 

They were awarded the champions prize for the best overall performance out the 23 teams taking part from around the South West, for their research project presentations, robot performance over three rounds, robot design and their teamwork.

Today saw the first day of the new Cashless Catering System within the School.  Pupils were enrolled on Wednesday where a secure fingertip scan was taken from each pupil.  Using their fingertips our pupils (and staff!) where able to purchase food at Breakfast, Break and Lunch Time today.  The whole process went extremely well with a smooth and efficient serving.

Pupils at anytime can check their balance and add money to their accounts at two cash boxes located in the School.  They can also check their accounts on the School Computers on the Vericool Portal.

Students from Commonweal School have beaten hundreds of schools nationwide to turn their green campagin in to a reality.

The energy company Npower ran a competition called Climate Cops SOS designed to motivate the UK's greenest teens to turn their passion for the environment in to a reality.

Ten students from Commonweal impressed judges with their entry video designed to rally the people of Swindon in to buying local food and reducing their food miles.

Now they're through to the final they'll go to London at the end of the month to take part in a special work shop hosted by former journalist, spin doctor and top campaign strategist Alastair Campbell.  Using their mentors wisdom they'll then go on to have a series of workshops which will turn their campaign in to a reality.