Facebook campaign to save school from the axe

Apr 28 2009 By Adam Courtney

DISTRAUGHT St David's School girls are vowing to do all they can to save the school from closure.

They, along with parents and former pupils, have besieged social networking website Facebook and launched a group called "Save our School".

An online petition has also been set-up in a last bid attempt to prevent the 293-year-old private school, in Church Road, Ashford, closing its gates for the last time on July 3.

And headteacher Tessa Smith gave them a glimmer of hope when, after being asked by the Herald & News whether there was any chance the school could be saved, she said: "We're still exploring some of the enquiries. I don't know how solid some of them are but I'm not a quitter."

Some of the 246 girls left in limbo have already secured other schools, including year 10 pupil Grace Ransom, who will join St George's in Weybridge.

Mother Wendy, of Staines, said: "We're very happy with the choice. It's totally different to St David's, very modern, and we were over-whelmed with how welcoming they are. It's considerably more expensive but they have agreed to let us pay the same as we would have at St David's for the first year."

Meanwhile efforts continue to find schools for other girls and last night (Tuesday) the first of two forums, held at St David's with representatives of other schools in the area, were held.

Fundraising on Facebook - see page 2