Longton High to close in 2010

“Rog and Warren you both sound like very polite and considerate children sorry adults lol . But I have a well educated young man for a son who came through longton with a good education and very good manners. He is now working for a well known engineering firm and earning a good wage . thanks all longton staff”

“Helen, I think we have to get past defending Longton. There will always be those small minded people who, as you point out, have probably never visited any high school, let alone LHS, so really don't know what they are talking about and shouldn't let their fingers loose on a keyboard. I too am proud to say that both my children attended LHS, and have also witnessed first hand the care, dedication, and professionalism of Mrs Webber and her staff. I know that a decade ago Longton High did have a poor reputation, but in the last 8 years Mrs Webber and her staff have worked hard to change the school. It's a pity too many people have too long memories and can't credit an improving school with hardworking staff whose only concern is the well being and educational achievement of its students.”

“Warren - one of my polite, well rounded children still attends the LHS, so is he now an unchin because he is still there? No, he is not. Nor are the other students. If everyone who is so quick to be negative about LHS actually took a good close look at other secondary schools, they would find that they are full of teenagers, who do not always act as adults would like or are all of you who are so quick to judge perfect yourselves? I do not condone anti-social behaviour or impoliteness or rudeness be it from the younger generation or the older generation who sometimes are much worse. Let LHS, close if it must with dignity and decorum and let those who are proud to have attended or worked there do so in peace without all of the character assassinations and slurs directed at them.”

“Helen... Longton, yes there were one or two polite, considerate, well rounded pupels at that schol once, they must have been your kids, most of them are Urchins, lets admit it...lol.”

“To clarity some points - Barbara Hall used to be the Deputy Head at the high school I attended & I have always said she was an excellent deputy and had the students welfare at heart, was kind, strict and fair. I was not surprised to hear she had become a head teacher and expected her to do a wonderful job to the best of her ability. Still knowing this, I still CHOSE Longton high for my children and I will never regret this decision. Both of my children have received a wonderful education, had the benefit of kindness, understanding and utmost professionalism from all of the staff at LHS, regardless of their role. I am proud of my children, they are polite, considerate and well rounded people and this is partly due to the care they have received at LHS and of course from their parents.I take offence at my children being called Unchins. If Sandon was so enthusiastic at taking over LHS, they would have issued a letter to parents of LHS students allaying any worries that they we may have as to the education and welfare of our children but there has been nothing, which silence says a lot of things, like trying to find any way possible not to take on the managing role of LHS. That is more than fine, I would much prefer Mrs Webber and her team to oversee my child's education. So Sandon, if you do not want the children of LHS or the wonderful staff, kick up a fuss but let us know and we will back you all the way to keep the LHS just the way it is.”

“I pity the staff of Sandon High, with all them Longton High unchins being dumped on them. Take a few members of Longton High staff, at least they are use to them. They could not call it Meir High, it had a bad rep as it was.”

“Mick and Jill. Please can I clarify that no-one is criticizing the Head of Sandon. nor any of its staff. I have no doubt that Barbara Hall is an excellent Head, and has done a fantastic job for Sandon High. It is the fact, that upto now there has been no comment from any member of the team at Sandon that they are welcoming this move. As you say Jill, it is a stressful time for all, so pupils/staff/parents need to know the plan asap.”

“I find it hard to believe that a Head of Barbara Hall's calibre would ever want anything but the best for any child in her charge, and surely that includes the LHS children. It frightens me most that parents might frighten children by suggesting otherwise. I just hope that the Sandon staff are given the resources and support to assist the parents and children at LHS during the coming, very stressful, months.”

“The fact that Ged Rowney said at the meeting that he is talking to the teaching unions has to be a good thing. But it is very late and I hope progress is finally being made. Ages back before McLaughlan got his judgement from the electorate, he was talking about developing a protocol with schools. I recall Ged saying that the unions have much experience in these matters, which I'm sure they have. Let's just hope the council takes notice of this. This idea of having only one predecessor school seems crazy to me. If more than one school are being replaced with one, why can't there be more than one predecessor school? We shouldn't be in the position of favouring staff from one school over another. The protocol must be the one that is fairest for staff and consequently best for pupils, not just the one that is easiest and least work for the council.”

“i would not dream of knocking the superb staff at Longton High. but Sandon has one of the best Headmistresses in the country never mind Stoke, she always does the best for every child in Sandon. so please dont knock Sandon until you yourself know the school.”