Council thanked for support of school pupils

I feel all members of Lisburn City Council are to be congratulated and commended for their united stance last week on behalf of a small number of vulnerable pupils who at the age of 16 are not necessarily ready to be forced to leave the environment of Beechlawn School and face the adult world of employment or Further Education.

For a number of years the Governors and Parents at the school have been campaigning for the provision of post 16 education in an environment familiar to pupils and in which they feel safe and supported so that they can be better equipped to cope with life in the 21st century.

It is to be hoped that with the support of all parties in the council chamber the SEELB, which has so far refused to to provide such an opportunity for children with Moderate Learning Difficulties, will see the justice of what is demanded and provide the necessary support to the school.

Denis Nightingale

Chairman of Governors, Beechlawn School, Hillsborough

*In last week’s story we quoted Cllr Uel Mackin as saying he had a daughter at Beechlawn. In face he was speaking about a constituent who had a child at the school. Apologies for the confusion.