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HARROP Fold pupil Natasha Jones, 11, says the Bishop of Salford owes her school an apology.
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Pupil slams Bishop Brain-less
15/ 2/2007
A PUPIL is demanding an apology from the Bishop of Salford for his 'brainless' attack on her school.
Natasha Jones, 11, contacted the Advertiser after reading comments made about Harrop Fold by Bishop Terence Brain.
He criticised standards at the school as he spoke against the council's proposals to close St George's RC High School in Walkden under the Building Schools for the Future plans.
Bishop Brain said: "St George's exam results have been improving for years. What has Harrop Fold been doing for the same period? Why keep a school that has not done well open and close one that has?"
Natasha, who lives with her parents Lisa and Mark and five-year-old brother Luke, in Weaver Avenue, said: "How disappointing that Bishop Terence Brain did not think to use his brain, before launching an attack on my school.
"It is a pity, that when speaking on education, he made ignorant and uneducated comments about Harrop Fold. It is true that Harrop Fold has had difficulties, but they are in the past."
Natasha said Harrop Fold had come out of special measures in record time and had seen GCSE pass rates rise from 21 per cent to 45 per cent.
She added: "Neither the staff, pupils or governors have been making derogatory comments about St George's. We are not celebrating that they might close. Many of my friends are pupils at St George's. It saddens me that they might have to change schools. One of my closest friends now wrongly believes that St George's is being closed because we are having a new building.
"I truly believe Bishop Brain owes Harrop Fold an apology. If he is defending the right to choose a faith-based education, perhaps he should remember 'love thy neighbour.'
Natasha's mum Lisa, 32, is chair of governors at Hilton Lane Primary School, a feeder school to Harrop Fold, and said: "My daughter has only been there since September and the support she's had has been fantastic.
"I will have no hesitation in sending my son to Harrop Fold if the standard is what it is now."
Salford city council's education spokesman Councillor John Warmisham said: "I was amazed at the comments made by the Bishop about Harrop Fold. St George's has hijacked this process but it's not just about them it's about every school in this city."
The Bishop said he did not wish to make any comment on Natasha's letter.
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28/02/2007 at 12:43
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25/03/2007 at 13:54