Pupils’ farewell to Aveland
Year nine students were all that remained to bid farewell to the final days of Aveland School at Billingborough, pictured with Vice-principal Tina Briggs. Photo: 0378SB-3
SPECIAL surpises were planned by both pupils and staff as they geared up for the final day of Aveland School - otherwise known as the Billingborough campus of St George’s Academy.
Earmarked for closure by the authorities, the school has been steadily wound down over the last year with just 19 year nine students still attending in the last weeks as others had already finished their exams or transferred to the Academy’s Sleaford site.
Vice-principal Tina Briggs, who joined the school in 2001, is proud of how well the skeleton staff have maintained standards and morale.
The Standard visited on the penultimate day of term to hear how the pupils have been coping with the feeling of seeing their school for the last three years steadily packed away.
Brandon Brickman said: “It is very sad and horrible. We would love to keep it open.”
When asked how different it will be to their new school, Chris Thompson added: “We are going to miss how small it is and we like the teachers. You can find your way around easily and know where your friends are. Our new school is massive.”
They paid a visit to look around the newly redeveloped school at Sleaford and will be sporting new St George’s uniforms, and Mrs Briggs thought they all looked very smart.
The pupils said it had been quite good to have the place to themselves and had grown closer to be like onw big family with supportive staff, but sad to see everything run down. Miles Line said: “It didn’t feel like it was really going to close until these last few weeks and now it has really kicked in.”
A special memorabilia website fhas been set up: www.theaveland.org
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sleaford
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South west
