2:30pm Thursday 30th July 2009
By Miranda Newey
A MUM whose seven children have all attended threatened Longbarn Primary said it is not unusual to see the establishment’s former pupils take the lead role in life.
Sue Conneely first stepped into the Fallowfield Grove school more than 20 years ago when her daughter Becky, now aged 26, was a toddler.
She said: “It had such an open family atmosphere, I knew I could trust the staff and they had such a caring attitude.”
Councillors voted to close the school last Monday saying there were not enough pupils attending to make it viable.
The infectious community spirit and warmth of the school encouraged her to get involved in the PTA before becoming a teaching assistant and a governor.
Her youngsest son Kieran, aged 11, has just finished his last year at Longbarn.
She added: “The parents become so involved it is a working partnership, whatever happens at school is backed up at home.
“It leaves the children with a good attititude and they want to learn. The staff know the children as individuals.”
Sue, who now works as a higher level teaching assistant at the school, said the location of the facility so near to her home on Duckworth Grove, Longbarn, was perfect when her children were younger.
“Having so many children under five, I just wouldn’t have been able to get them to school if we had to take them any further,” said Sue.
The eldest of Sue and her husband Steve’s children have all gone on to secure successful professions. Becky went to Durham University before becoming the manager of Liverpool’s Everyman Playhouse, Thomas, aged 23, did a physics degree with masters honours at the University of Manchester and now works as a research physisist at the University of Leicester. And 22-year-old Andrew works for Bentley Motors in Crewe after the car giant sponsored him through a design and engineering degree at the University of Manchester.
Sue said Longbarn Primary School picks up on pupils’ talents and works on building on them. She said children get a part in every school and sporting event because of the tight-knit school.
Becky, Sue’s daughter, was disappointed to hear that Warrington Borough Council was proposing to close the school, which has ‘special values’, four years after campaigners managed to save it.
She said: “It is unfair that they have not been given the time to show a massive difference (in pupil numbers). Every time the council comes up with closure it gives people that niggling doubt in their minds.
“I thought the school would be reviewed but the council was quick on its heels to announce the closure.
“I definitely think Longbarn helped me to build my confidence and it makes you more tolerant and understanding of different types of people which has helped in a working environment.
Becky has voiced her concerns about closing her former primary school in a letter to Helen Jones MP for Warrington North.
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