Pupils bid farewell to old Priory School
Published at 09:45, Friday, 03 July 2009
IT started as a special educational unit with 12 pupils, tucked away in a property behind Hexham Abbey.
Today, the staff and pupils of Hexham Priory School are preparing for a momentous move into their new £6.8 million purpose built school on Corbridge Road.
It will cater, ultimately, for 80 children with severe learning difficulties – saving many of them from having to go out of county for their education.
The school, which currently caters for 60 pupils, has outgrown its existing premises.
On Thursday, pupils past and present, parents, staff and supporters gathered to mark the end of an era and the imminent demolition of the building at Dene Park.
Music, provided by Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School ceilidh band, accompanied the nostalgic walk down memory lane.
To date, 232 children have attended Priory School, which has the motto ‘Never Underestimate a Child’s Ability’.
Head teacher Mike Thompson said: “Referring to the closure of this building reminds me of the time when pupils such as ours would not have been able to attend any school, because they were deemed to be uneducable.
“It was in 1971 that children with learning difficulties were first allowed an education.
“Whilst making me sad and angry on behalf of earlier generations who were totally excluded from the education system, this makes me realise how far those working in special education have come.”
In contrast to their exclusion and isolation of the past, the children at Priory were now part and parcel of the Hexham Schools’ Partnership, one of the most inclusive educational partnerships in the country, he added.
The school was established in 1971 by Margaret Usher, a woman who radiated a feeling of caring and warmth, said former chairman of governors Susan Ramsay.
“Margaret and her staff managed to cope with the toilet being at the other side of the yard behind the Abbey.
“This meant dressing the children up in coats and hats in the winter and putting on shoes in the summer before the facility could be used.”
The school was later based for a number of years in premises on Windsor Terrace, Corbridge, before moving to the current building in 1981.
Mrs Ramsay remembered some of the highlights over the years, including one happy trip during which the staff and pupils got locked in a chocolate factory for several hours.
Chairman of governors and parent of a past pupil, Helen Milner, said her son David had loved his school trip to Paris.
“It was a great adventure for David and his friends, but it also demonstrated how much he had learned at the school and the level of trust he had in the staff,” she said.
“It also showed us parents that when the time is right we can ‘let go’ and trust other people with our children.”
The most touching moment of Thursday’s celebration was the tribute paid by pupil Alex Pearson (13), who took to the podium to say: “School’s great and you’re great, Mike.”
Priory School has continued to operate out of the current building while the new one has been constructed on the adjacent field.
After the furniture and equipment has been transferred across at the end of this term, the current premises will be demolished to make way for a five-a-side football pitch.
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk
