Somersetfran

OK. I have worked at several school in Sheffield in my time...and Bristol and London to boot; most of them inner city and multiculturally diverse. I was at Abbeydale Grange when Nick Davies did the three articles for the Guardian. The biggest problem we had was the (sadly) negative attitude of parents who were scared that their child would have to attend AGS. I sat next to one at a parents' meeting at Silverdale who said 'over my dead body'; she didn't know I worked there and I asked her to expand on the comment. Her reply was far too racist to post on here. Needless to say, the hardest working students were those who had not been born in Sheffield and those whose parents valued the opportunity for their children to work in a truly multi-cultural environment. Those students knew education was key to progress and success and so did their parents. AGS was a great school in which to work and learn, and any school who has the support of parents for the value of education, cultural understanding and tolerance will succeed and grow no matter what its catchment. It is, ultimately, up to parents, teachers and communities to work together and not point out differences as negatives but to communicate, support and persevere. By the by, I did hear at one point that the old Bannerdale Centre was to be pulled down to make way for this new school. Wasn't it built on an old tip site?!

Glad to see something happening to the old Lady. Had some good times there in the past and it is prime land. Let's hope the eventual builders do a good job.

Didn't see it - out partying! - but a friend of mine might have been one of the musicians in one scene - if it hadn't been cut!

Great thread! Lots of polish-ed comments and good ideas!