The following is a letter sent in by Bailey Cameron, a year 7 pupil at St Margaret's School:
I came home Friday afternoon from school after my dad had collected me, I sat down and got on with my homework... Then my mum came home... Myheart sank! It was her job to deliver such devastating news which was once again appallingly handled! Now I'm not going to lie, as I have no true meaning of the financial debt. However, I know as a fact that there are a lot of other schools of whom are also having difficult times as a result of financial issues. So, how did the decision come about that such a loving, family school was to be closed down, as Exeter is obviously in need for one. The answer is simple, There is an increasing amount of lack of trust and faith towards the school, St. Margaret's has not received the support it deserves and that of which it was promised, but also Exeter does not recognise the potential, achievements and courage that St. Margaret's holds within it. As far as I'm concerned, promises that could disturbingly effect the education and future of a student - if are not kept as well as being tampered with - are not of those to be broken or to be taken upon lightly! It seems as though you have been playing with our education like a child with a football! I am sure that I speak for many when I say this, St. Margaret's is the only school in which I wish and planned to strive and succeed in. When uproar
occurred last year during the course of the summer term I am not ashamed to say that I handed in a terms notice. I then later requested my notice to be withdrawn on the guarantee that there would be a sixth form for me and on the agreement that I was extremely happy with where I was and would never dream of looking elsewhere if I could prevent it. However, this may now not be the case.
I appreciate the fact that the economy is growing ever more expensive, but is there such reason to distract the opportunities of the next generation. I can not speak on behalf of the girls who are currently in the middle of their GCSE's but I can strongly imagine that they are far, far from jubilant and are well above the line of devastation and annoyance. At this rate they may even be forced to repeat a year in order for their grades to represent the best of their abilities. Frankly, this harsh situation could not have appeared at a more inconvenient time! With the entrance exams over it may prove to be a case of picking up the spaces of people who have rejected their offer for a space at their chosen school.
As I am aware, our headmaster only found out the awful news by a reach ofcontact at roughly 12:00am 24/01/13, and was then expected to somehow report this shocking information to all teachers and staff the following day at what I gather was at 4:00pm. After probably only just coming to terms with the fact that the school, of which he had devoted his past six years to, was to be closed at the end of he academic year!
So, with pupils without a school, staff to soon be out of a job and a number of people with mixed emotions was all caused by the closure of a school. With that being just a few of the outcomes. Well, I can firmly say - without any urming or ahhing - that no school has such dedicated staff, who are reasonably connected, supportive and who give a great amount of encouragement towards such determined, adventurous, strong-minded and intelligent pupils.
St. Margaret's is special! It's a challenge to write down in words why, but there is just something about it - a buzz! Without knowing what the school stands for and the girls that it produces how are you able to make a decision as serious as it is and it's consequences are!
In the event of the worst scenario I believe that all members of the school will continue to flourish, because of the boast that St. Margaret's has passed onto us. We have evidence of this from past girls who attended the school who have relished into adulthood and have taken it in their stride and are now achieving so much! As Mr. Bergin picked up on in his heart-warming assembly, on 28/01/13, the building of which our school is located is just bricks and cement but it's the memories and success that will stay with us forever - and will certainly prove to become useful in future situations! Furthermore, many of the previous girls belonging to our school are also participating in changing the lives of others, and this strong reputation of unfolding fine young ladies could continue for many more years to come if we set our minds to it! The following of the six rules, proposed by Mr. John Riley, towards the start of the bumpy road could have stopped any further disruptions!
http://www.stmargarets-school.co.uk/Pages/News/Prize_Giving_John_Ryley.html
Forgive me if this letter seems rushed but, as Mr Bergin declared in the assembly of the foregoing Monday, we have a job to do and we shall pursue this job with our chins up, chests out and to continue giving it our all with a St. Margaret's spirit. Which is exactly what we intend to do!
I am, and will always be proud to be a 'maggot', no matter what happens!
Bailey Cameron - Year 7
