Save school, says ex-pupil
Closure-threatened site helped girl ‘to turn life round’
Published:
A former pupil of a crisis-hit residential school in Aberdeen last night said she would be “locked up” if it was not for the care she received there.
Abandoned by her mother when she was 11, Ashleigh Rae admits she “didn’t listen and didn’t behave” while living in children’s homes and foster care until the age of 13.
But she remembers the date — August 12, 2004 — when she was moved to Oakbank School and her life changed.
Now 17, the qualified hairdresser of 56 Towerhill Avenue, Inverness, was upset when she heard this week’s news that the school would close.
“Oakbank was my home and I’m sure it’s a home for lots of other children — you can’t take that away from them,” she said.
Confessing to having been an unruly child, she said she rarely went to school while growing up at Campbeltown, Conon Bridge and Alness.
“I had emotional problems and couldn’t talk about anything personal,” she said.
“But within months of attending Oakbank I managed to turn my life round.”
Despite plans for a redevelopment of the school following temporary closure, its 95 staff are facing redundancy and its future appears in doubt.
Yesterday the Press and Journal revealed that Barratt Homes had pulled out of a multimillion-pound deal to buy land for housing at the Midstocket Road site, and that the city chamberlain had written to its board requesting clarification over its financial position.
“I hope that the school doesn’t close down, and that things can be sorted,” said Ms Rae.
“The support that they gave me was brilliant, it was just fantastic care.
“I would probably be locked up today if it wasn’t for them.”
She left the school after three years on her 16th birthday last year, to attend Inverness College, but when “things get hard” she still phones her former carers to hear a friendly voice.
“My time there was great. If I had the opportunity I would go back there just now,” she said.
“I think that if Oakbank closes it will be a terrible mistake.”
Letter, Page 40
Readers' Comments
This unfortunate story perfectly highlights the hypocrisy of the Labour party in Aberdeen City. On the 29th of April in this paper we have:- "Labour councillor and board member Willie Young said he had full confidence in the principal’s running of the school. He added: “I look forward to working with Jane Arrowsmith as she develops Oakbank from an old fashioned residential home to an up and coming school that caters for the needs of kids from Aberdeen and other places.”" Less than two weeks later he is closing it down, causing a huge disruption in the lives of many people. Now I am sure this will be understood by many people if the economics just don't add up. Yet isn't that exactly what has happened in Aberdeen City Council? They do not have enough income to cover the cost of services yet that very same Willie Young has been one of the foremost critics of the cuts. How on earth can he justify his continued attacks, given he has just done exactly the same, albeit on a smaller scale?
John Duncan
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I am happy for Ashleigh that her life improved courtesy of 95 members of staff looking after her. I still believe that the pupil/staffing ratio is an issue that has to be addressed, and has to be one of the reasons the school is in financial difficulty. It's unfortunate we need places like Oakbank it's also unfortunate that a great many kids who need similar support are falling through the crack because of financial constraints. Where is the support for them financial or otherwise.
Bill Main
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