A
NEW school is to have a whopping 12-word name
because of a spat over what it should be called. From
September pupils face enrolling at Knowsley
Park Centre for Learning serving Prescot,
Whiston and the Wider Community. The far
from catchy title believed to be among the
worlds longest school names will be
the name adopted by a new secondary in Prescot.
It is to be based on the site of Prescot school
which dates back to 1544. The school will be a
combination of Prescot school and Whistons
Higher Side comprehensive, one of seven new
multi-million secondaries the council refer to as
centres for learning.
Governors
have confirmed the mouthful name will be used on
the school exterior as well as signs, stationery,
marketing and letters. The council-backed
governing body had plumped for Knowsley Park
Centre for Learning because of its Knowsley Park
Lane location and the fact the school is a
completely new entity to the previous donating
secondary schools. But this angered Lib-Dem
ward councillors who are furious a secondary
based in Prescot, and replacing a school which
had served a community for more than 550 years,
had no mention of Prescot in the title.
As
a compromise the governors have stretched the
name to reflect all the areas it will serve. A
Knowsley council spokesman today said the new
name was legally sound and 150
responses were received after flyers asking for
suggestions were sent out when consultation on
the name began in October last year.
These the council said were distributed to both
Prescot and Higher Side school pupils, feeder
primary schools and the wider
community, including community centres and
community groups.
A
spokesman confirmed that following Lib-Dem
concerns over the original name the governors
agreed to always refer to the Centre as
'Knowsley Park Centre for Learning - serving
Prescot, Whiston and the wider
community. But the new name was today
branded disrespectful by Cllr
Marjorie Sommerfield, shadow education
spokeswoman. She told the ECHO: It is
important that Prescot is in the title due to its
historic links , we have lost enough of our
identity already. We realise it would
probably need to be called Prescot and Whiston,
but what they have come up with is patronising
and an after thought. When you think of Knowsley
Park you think of Lord Derbys estate.
Today
Nick Seaton, chairman of parent body the Campaign
for Real Education which presses for higher
standards and more parental choice in state
education said: This is probably among the
longest school names in the world and definitely
among the most ridiculous and impractical. At
least pupils will be able to practise their
spelling and grammar every time they refer to
their school.
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The sooner
Prescot gets out of Knowsley the better! This is
a disgrace. Prescot (grammar) School has over 550
years history. Knowsley was formed in 1974...
It is typical spin, Knowsley Park Lane is a
road!! All the idiots at the council want is
Knowsley as a brand and a name to dominate
everywhere. Pathetic.
Why don't the Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby
elements join Greater Liverpool and Prescot can
join St Helens, or even better join South
Lancashire and get back our history. I work in
the media so will make sure Knowsley becomes the
laughing stock of councils if this 'rebranding'
goes ahead. [prescot98]
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It is a
crazy name. I was at PGS from 1968-1975. Knowsley
Park, to me, means safari park. [Lee Hammond]
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This must
be some sort of joke... who in their right mind
thinks this has any merit? Prescot Grammar school
is being robbed of its historical name by
politically correct bureaucrats hell bent on
trying to distance themselves for the short time
the school was part of the selective education
system. [Editor]
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As even a
school name has to be politically correct in
today`s world would it not be more appropriate
for the place to be called, "Merseysides
Multicultural Politically Correct Academic
Institution for all Abilities and
Temperaments"? Or would that leave out
something? [invisible]
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Futurum
inquirimus...for what! Why? Leave it alone. It's
been good since 1544. [Ken Ashton]
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Please
pass on my outrage at the re-naming of PGGS (oh
well you can include the guys as well! ) What
madness.I will pass on the news to Miss Keay but
she will probably know already! [Sandra Clancy]
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I am
horrified at this change in a school with over
550 years odf existence at Prescot (Grammar)
School. There is NO NEED for this change. It is a
SCHOOL and it is in PRESCOT. "Knowsley
Park" is where monkeys and lions live, NOT
where young people are education. [Liz Parkinson]
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How can
they let such a historic name be replaced with
such a load of pc poppycock??? [Ken Jones]
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I cannot
believe my eyes....indeed I read this through a
mist of tears. As a callow 14 year old, I
campaigned to stop the amalgamation
(successfully) of the former Prescot Grammar
School with Whiston Higherside in c. 1980. At
least they weren't trying to give the merged
institution a ridiculous name though. What is it
to be known as "for short"? KLASPWIC?
Someone's bound to come up with something
undignified...and its future pupils will be
ashamed...Alma Mater? They won't know (or care)
about the meaning. One more nail in the coffin for the
historic town of Prescot whose fate was sealed in
1974. In 1976, the decision was taken to bulldoze
many of its historic buildings thus erasing its
character and unique and proud history forever.
PLEASE don't do this. [Sueprescotian]
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Oh dear,
Governors obviously had little time to think.
Perhaps to busy filling expense claims as seems
to be the in thing? [Paul Hooker]
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Another
great example of the demise of the British
Education System and why I (currently living in
Egypt) have no intention of returning to the UK
whilst my children are of school age! [Graeme
Bagley]
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Omigoodness!
Save us from the probably overpaid, lots of
expenses...just following the outcome of the
"review" people. [Sandra Clancy]
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I do not
believe it! When was Prescot Knowsley!!! [Ken
Ashton]
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This
renaming/rebranding is total b*ll**ks. Could a
Petition be organised. Any other action. This is
throwing away over 500 years of history for the
benefit of PC. [Skip Ward]
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Sounds
like a very 'special' school now !! [Mick Hilton] |
Unfortunately,
history means nothing to the PC
Brigade
.or rather its means get rid
of it!. [Steve Flynn]
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Surely
they missed the prefix which presumably is: The
People's.. [Robert McDougall]
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Its beyond
parody, and really very sad. But in truth, the
rot set in years ago, and it may perhaps be
preferable finally to bury the corpse and choose
remember the school we all new and loved it its
better days. Might I suggest the addition of yet
a further word to the proposed new name, to round
it up the dozen, and at the same time an
alternative convenient location? How about; 'The
Knowsley Safari Park Centre for Learning . . .
etc etc ' [Peter Chadwick]
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What
disappointing news, in today's climate,
unfortunately not as unexpected as it should be.
[John Webster]
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What a
load of political correctness bollox! Not only is
it disrespectful to the history of the school,
but the pupils will be the laughing stock of the
UK educational service and colleges of further
education, when they apply for placements.
Completely ridiculous! [David Ng]
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I'd just
like to add to them my total disbelief in this
amazingly stupid decision. It makes you wonder
what kind of morons are running the madhouse of
local government! [Paul Gerrard]
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Agree -
absolutely awful name. However, I could live with
the name change if I did not see it as a change
in ethos. PGS was a lifeline for me and countless
others. It saddens me to think that future
generations of bright kids will be denied access
to a first class education. [Ian Mitchell]
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Unbelievable!
[Rob Kershaw] |