School memories celebrated as Longton High closes http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8828000/8828984.stm
On Friday, 23 July 2010, the doors of Longton High School in Stoke-on-Trent closed for the very last time.
The school can trace its roots all the way back to the 18th Century but it moved to its current site in Box Lane in 1963.
But for the new term, they'll be moving to a new building in Meir and merging with Sandon High School.
It's all part of the city's Building Schools for the Future programme.
But the site won't completely abandon its educational roots as it will be used by the nearby Sandon Business and Enterprise College.
Staff and pupils at Longton High in Stoke-on-Trent said their final farewells with a series of events to share their memories of the school.
School memorabilia
One poignant moment involved the burying of a time capsule which contained a school tie, mosaic plaques, stories written by the pupils and other school memorabilia.
Headteacher Jan Webber admitted that it's been difficult to fight back her emotions:
"It is a sad time. The school is closing as Longton High School and for me, it's doubly sad because I'm going to be moving on and I'm going to miss lots and lots of people here."
Straddling the divide
Amanda Hallam said that she has so many wonderful memories because she's seen both sides of the classroom divide:
"As a pupil I made lots of friends and we had some really good, fun times... we went abroad with the school and lots of trips out.
"As a teacher, obviously I've made different friends and it's like a second family."
Send us your memories
If you would like to share your memories of your time at Longton High School send an e-mail to us and we'll include some of them on this webpage.
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I went to Longton High School from 1958 until 1965.
The first 5 years I spent at the previous site at Sandon road. That school then became Sandon High.
We moved from the all boys Grammar school to the new site at Box Lane and girls then formed half the first form.
In addition Girls and Boys who had passed their O levels at the then called 'Junior High Schools' joined us in the lower sixth.
It is interesting that the school is to go back to its old site at Sandon Road and I think it is a mistake to not call it Longton High School which has such a long history whereas Sandon is only 47 years old.
In my view The old boys school was by far better although having girls around had its advantages!
The school seemed to lose its competitive sporting edge and the number of houses in the school was reduced from 6 to 4.
All the houses were named after prominent local people Astbury, Brindley, Bennett, Mitchell, Lodge, Wedgwood and a large stained glass window containing all these people was taken from Sandon road to Box Lane. What is going to happen to this now????
Mike Smith,
Old Longtonian in Stafford