REACTIONS

From M M R (ex-pupil):

The Blue Coat School was already diverse in the 1970's and this is not the time to tell non-Anglicans they are not really welcome.

From Andy R (ex-pupil):

It would be a sad day if the Blue Coat was subjected to this ordeal.

From C H (parent):

I have just attended the meeting.... and have now had a look at your website.... Excellent!

From Rev D S (ex-pupil):

I think this is shocking

From G G (parent):

I feel very strongly about this matter. I am strongly opposed to the Blue Coat being 'taken over' by the C of E. As a parent of two children at the school.... I am well aware of how this may affect the school. My eldest son also left last July, and I am proud to say is now studying Maths at Corpus Christie Oxford. As I am a single parent I am extremely proud to tell people this and proud to say my children attend a school which I deem to be the best in the country almost! I am grateful for everything the school has done for my children and will stand by it for years to come.

From an ex-pupil:

Thanks for telling me. I am shocked.

From S Banks (Year 13 pupil):

The C of E only started 'taking control' of schools in the middle of the 19th century, so how on Earth can a document written in 1708 be enough evidence for them to take control of the Blue Coat?

From M K (ex-pupil):

I will be writing to the Education Secretary.

From K C (parent):

Nice to see you at the meeting last night.

From Allan E (ex-pupil):

I deplore the way the Church is trying to effectively rape the assets of what a lot of people have worked for over the years.

From David S (ex-pupil):

What they are doing, to me, is indefensible and seems to have no real legal justification.

From M M R (ex-pupil):

Just been re-reading your site, in particular the letter from the Diocese. In addition to my earlier point, in response to the following:

  "This clause has always underpinned the religious character of the school, not simply through its provision of Religious Education but through its chapel, its chaplain and the use of Holy Trinity (CofE) Church and Liverpool Cathedral for worship on occasions. If the school is designated with Church of England status, these things would be guaranteed for the future and could not be abandoned by the Governors or Foundation (as they have recently expressed their willingness to do)."

  Well, it is up to the Governors and the Foundation to continue do what they see fit, not the Diocese, and whether this entails worship at CofE churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, shrines, or whatever, can hardly be a matter for the CofE alone.

  As for the Holy Trinity Church, yes, I remember walking past it twice a day for seven whole years, as well as looking at it from over the wall on the north yard, but at no time did I enter it, nor was I enjoined to -- and I speak as a communicant member of the CofE, who would not have required any encouragement to do so. With respect, the Holy Trinity's closeness to the school was no more than a geographical coincidence.

From Rev Dr David Steers:

Dear Tony,

You deserve the wholehearted thanks of the school and those who have the welfare of the school close to their hearts for the work you are doing on this. I have written to the Liverpool Echo.... and also to the Minister and the Head. Best wishes.

(Note: Rev Steers' letter was published in the Liverpool Echo on 21st December 2006)

From T S (ex-pupil):

I am reminded of the story of a small boy who was most unhelpful around the house. One day he astounded his parents by volunteering to empty the rubbish bin. They were delighted by his act of kindness. However, the young lad was the only one who knew that his father had accidentally dropped a £5 note into the bin! I wonder what the Church of England have spotted in the Blue Coat School's metaphorical rubbish bin?

From a grateful ex-pupil:

I am saddened that the Church is so oblivious to the school's wishes, and implicitly denying their right to judge for themselves what is in their best interests. How can they seriously claim the school would gain from designation and also maintain its diversity? The Blue Coat School is already one of the best state schools in the country.

From a Year 13 pupil:

The new website looks good! ..... Very good source of information - it's great we have someone as passionate as yourself to help us. I signed the government petition and I'm going to get as many of my friends to sign it as possible. ..... Thanks for all the hard work you're putting in! It's much appreciated by myself and the rest of the school who oppose this takeover.

From the Liverpool Humanist Group:

I have added my vote on your site, and the contact details on the Action page are very useful. ......our members are very interested and I'm sure they have contacted the Blue Coat individually.

From Chris Hallows, Chairman of Blue Coat Governors:

I am just amazed at your website, but more grateful for your continued and dedicated support to the school at this very serious time.

From Derek Gillard, former headmaster and now operator of "Education in England" website (www.dg.dial.pipex.com):

Thanks for letting me know about this - and good luck with your important campaign to keep the Blue Coat School out of the clutches of the Church of England. All good wishes.

From Cheryl Gilland:

I am appalled the Church of England can do this. Your website is an excellent idea.

From Alan Quick:

I was quite shocked and disgusted by the unacceptable face of opportunism by the C of E and the odious positioning of the government,. which comes as no surprise! Lets hope decency and commonsense prevail.

From Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury, Mirfield and Heckmondwike:

Thank you for your letter regarding the Church of England bid for the Blue Coat School. I understand your concerns about the school losing its diversity and multi-faith character if the school is confirmed as a Church of England School. Unfortunately since the Blue Coat School is not situated in my constituency I will not be able to deal directly with the matter. I have written on your behalf to Rt Hon Jane Kennedy MP for Liverpool Wavertree and Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, expressing your concerns on the matter. I will contact you again when I receive replies to my enquiries. I hope this is of reassurance to you. In the meantime if you have any further questions on this, or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to do so. With all best wishes, Shahid.

From Ewen McMillan (extract from his letter to Jane Kennedy MP):

I am writing to express my concern about the substance of the Church of England's claim to this school..... and also to the manner in which the Secretary of State for Education has supported this claim. I am a former pupil of the school. When I was admitted, the only criterion was that each pupil must have enthusiasm to better themselves (academically or in other areas such as sport). As Mr John Barry-Peters expressed it, you need to have a "fire in your belly". Other than that there was no formal admission requirement, and no entrance examinations. The school morning assembly was centred on a moral or religious theme, with a Bible reading and hymn. At that time in 1977 everyone joined in. My friend Sanje Pande, son of Dr Pande who set up the Liverpool Hindu Centre, sat alongside boarding students from Hong Kong. The academic record in my time was excellent, with 11 of the 90 in the upper 6th year I was in going to Oxford or Cambridge universities. It is this academic excellence, rather than some tenuous historical claim, which I believe the C of E is seeking to acquire as it will help out their performance figures. In short, I oppose this move to make the school a C of E establishment.

From Claire Greenway (daughter of Mr & Mrs Wallbank - see "Dirty Trick" page of this website):

Thank you so much for your fantastic support regarding my parents’ plight and the plight of potentially 1000’s of other people across the country. I was similarly outraged and saddened by the bullying that the Church is applying to your old school… but not, I’m afraid, particularly surprised (after watching my parents try to deal with this mess from the age of 15 I am not shocked anymore by the scope of the Church’s devious and vindictive tactics). I see that the deadline for lobbying has passed for your case but please do let us know if there are any other people we can send letters/emails to who may still have power to affect the outcome. In the meantime, I’ve linked you on our website. We really appreciate the link you’ve made on your website and the write up about our case .

Headmaster "Sandy" Tittershill has posted a forceful statement on the Blue Coat School's official website.

In his article he appeals for letters of support and gives details of how we can help. Click this link to see it.

STOP PRESS (6th February):  Since I opened this website on 14th January I have received a total of 31 e-mails and letters of support. I have today posted them to Chris Hallows (Chair of Governors) to add to the hundreds received by the school. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

(There are two "sub-pages" in this section. Hover your cursor over the "REACTIONS" tab at

the top of the page to reveal the links)

  THIS WEBSITE IS (C) COPYRIGHT TONY SALMON 2007.

It has no official connection with the Liverpool Blue Coat School.