Forever Ehenside

On the 18th July 2008, after 50 years of educating children from the local communities, Ehenside Community School closed its doors to its last student.

This site is dedicated to the Staff and students of the school over the last 50 years.

My background

I personally have only worked at Ehenside Community School since March 5th 2007 when I joined the staff as the IT technician. I was well aware at the time of my arrival of the dire straits that the school was in. The school had failed an OFSTED inspection in the previous June and had been put into special measures.

In spite of this I found a tremendous dedication amongst the staff to overcome the problems caused and a determinations to get out of the situation they were in.

The situation was further exacerbated by the knowledge that the School had been earmarked for closure along with Wyndham School in Egremont to be replaced by the Westlakes Academy on the Wyndham site.

The progress towards closure and amalgamation has been slow, painful and frustrating for all the staff. Whilst they may have venting their frustration in private they have never lost sight of why they were at the school. They have continued to help the children towards a better future. This is exemplified by the fact that in spite of everything that was going on around them they managed to get the school removed from special measures in March of 2008.

It is an interesting fact that when the school was originally placed in special measures and during the period from June 2006 to March 2008 when the special measures applied the local papers made much of the fact that Ehenside was a 'failing' school.

When the seemingly impossible was achieved and the special measures status was removed before the school closed it got only passing mention!

I am one of the staff who is being made redundant due to the closure of the school. I will miss the staff and students, it has been an honour and a privilege to work at the school with them.

It is my hope that this site will act as permanent memorial to all the staff and students that were lucky enough to either work at Ehenside or be educated at Ehenside or in the case of my good friend Arthur, with whom I have spent much time putting the world to rights, both.

If you have photos or memories that you would like to be include on the site please contact me at david@foreverehenside.co.uk

Alternatively please send any material to:-

David Briggs

23 Lakeland View

Nethertown

Egremont

Cumbria, CA22 2UH

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