Free Laptops As School Battles Back From Fire

By Chris Brayshay

A SCHOOL is fighting back after a devastating [pounds]110,000 arson attack.

Every first year pupil starting at St Peter’s RC College of Maths and Computing, in South Bank, Middlesbrough, in September, will be given a free laptop and software.

The project will allow parents to monitor their child’s progress, and the school intends to assign some joint projects for parents and pupils.

The Normanby Road school says this interactive approach will give parents a deeper insight into their child’s learning, in addition to helping them to check on attendance, behaviour records and academic progress.

A computer suite designed for special needs children was gutted in the September 2007 fire.

The Herlingshaw suite had been dedicated to the memory of mother- of-four, Jacqui Herlingshaw, who raised [pounds]8,000 to help the school achieve specialist status while she fought cancer, a battle she lost in July 2005.

She did not live to see the school achieve specialist status in maths and computing.

The special educational needs room (SEN) was named in her honour.

Headteacher Gavin Salvesen Sawh said: ” In this technological age, it is important that young people can fully access ICT to assist with their learning.

Our complete laptop package to new year sevens will greatly help.”

Deputy headteacher Pamela Hanrahan said: “The much-publicised fire, which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, has done little to quell the school’s ambition. The newly renovated facilities are much improved, enabling the school to embrace the Government’s every child matters initiative via a more flexible and inclusive learning environment personally suited to each student.”"This is clearly evident in the new SEN department, which is considerably larger than before the damage.” GCSE and SAT results are also increasing and improving at the college.

The up-to-date security equipment has been installed, following a thorough overhaul of security, in the wake of the fire which a 14- year-old boy admitted starting.

Having got over the fire, St Peter’s college is now the subject of possible merger plans with two other schools, Eston Park and Gillbrook Schools. One of the three could be forced to close.

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