PROUD OF THEIR COLLEGE. . . . Devenish Students Sarah Smyton and Adrian Bridle, who wrote letters to the Fermanagh Herald praising their college
IN THE wake of criticism of their beloved school, pupils from Devenish College have fought back, highlighting the dedication of the staff and the great facilities on offer.
Sarah Smyton, a sixth year pupil at the school, was ‘disgusted’ by remarks made about Devenish following the announcement of an amalgamation with Lisnaskea High School.
Sarah lost her father in January of last year and did not sit her mock GCSE’s. In spite of this, however she achieved all nine GCSEs at grades C and above.
She believes this would not have been possible had it not been for the ‘unconditional support and guidance from all members of staff’.
“If the teachers did not support us, nobody would get the grades. I feel like I will always be in debt to them.”
Sarah told the Herald that she does not know of any pupils who didn’t benefit from the dedication of staff at Devenish College and, like many other pupils, she is concerned about possible job losses at the site.
“I don’t want to see any of the great staff at Devenish lose their jobs, but it’s going to happen.”
A recent meeting at Lisnaskea High School regarding the proposed merger raised concerns regarding the standard of accommodation at Devenish College, concerns that Sarah feels are completely unfounded.
“I just think people are judging the school before they know anything about it. It is not the pupils, it is the parents.
“They automatically think it is a bad thing, when they haven’t even been there or know anything about it. It has been childish behaviour from those people involved in criticising our school.
“We have better facilities: We have learning centres, lifts and stair ramps, things that Lisnaskea (High School) don’t have. I don’t understand why people are complaining so much. This was not Devenish College’s decision, and ourselves and Lisnaskea have to deal with the adverse effects together.”
Adrian Bridle, another sixth year student at the school described the comments, some of which were reported in the local Press, others not, as ‘scandalous’.
The ‘bad mouthing’ ranged from a parent describing Devenish College as, a ‘cattle mart’, and another referring to their child/ren having ‘run from rotten classroom to classroom in the rain’.
Adrian said he accepted that feelings in Lisnaskea High School were running high.
“They know their school is closing down, and I understand that perfectly, but I just feel times are changing and that the parents in Lisnaskea need to change with them. I just feel we at Devenish College are not the ones to blame for it.”
Adrian echoed Sarah’s views regarding accomodation at the school and insisted there was plenty of room for the pupils from Lisnaskea
“We just had a new mobile block built which will accommodate the Lisnaskea pupils, no bother.”
He said the school was looking forward to the Lisnaskea-based pupils coming to Devenish in September.
“I am very friendly with those who came to us last year to do their A levels”, he added, “and they’re dead on, 100 per cent. I don’t really think they’re for or against it.”
Asked if he thought the ‘bad mouthing’ was common among the Lisnaskea parents, Adrian said he felt not.
“It’s a select few.”
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