Polly has criticised the owners of St Lawrence College in Ramsgate and vowed to support pupils and families, after the abrupt announcement that the school had gone into administration halfway through the academic year. In a statement she said:
“This is such distressing news for pupils, parents, and staff at St Lawrence, and unfortunately reflects a situation where the owners’ finances have been prioritised over the welfare and education of young people.
“St Lawrence college has been suffering financial difficulties for years, so there is no excuse for declaring bankruptcy in the middle of the academic year without any prior warning to staff and families.
“My priority now will be working with Kent County Council and the Department of Education to ensure students’ education is not interrupted and they all get the support they need to find alternative school places as quickly as possible. I also want to ensure the fantastic facilities at St Lawrence’s can be protected for use by the whole community.”