Remarks on proposals for a Catholic High School (county responsibility)

Document type:	Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue:	Formby High School, Lancashire
Source:	Liverpool Daily Post, 11 October 1972
Editorial comments:	MT was speaking after opening the school. She also visited primary schools in Sklemersdale and lunched at Ormskirk Edge Hill College of Education. Transcript of an article originally published in the The Liverpool Daily Post on 11 October 1972 and reproduced with permission of The Liverpool Daily Post and Echo.
Importance ranking:	Trivial
Word count:	206

Formby RC schoolplea

A heart-felt appeal was made to Education Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher yesterday when she officially opened Formby High School.

It came from Mr Harry Wall, outspoken chairman of Division 12 Education Executive, who said he was concerned a much needed Roman Catholic High School still failed to get county backing or a go-ahead from the Department of Education.

There was an immediate need for this school and unless Government help was given shortly, local educationalists faced a bleak future.

Mrs Thatcher said after the opening ceremony if the county did not consider a Catholic high school a priority, it was wrong for her department of intervene. The question of new schools was reviewed annually.

The Minister later toured the school buildings and met some of the 1,200 pupils.

She also visited two of Skelmersdale's primary schools yesterday to see the modified open plan method of teaching, used at both schools.

She was accompanied by the chairman of Lancashire Education Committee Mr J. Aston and the chief education officer Mr J. S. B. Boyce. She later lunched at the Ormskirk Edge Hill College of Education.