Back in 1996, a Stalybridge school with just 12 pupils launched a high profile appeal to raise £100,000 for a permanent home.
Founders of the Joseph Rayner Independent School, based at Millbrook Community Centre, were appealing to local and national companies to come forward with pledges of cash. A bid for lottery funding was also in the pipeline.
Suitable premises had already been identified, with a planning application to refurbish the property being considered by the council.
The school had been founded three years previously after a group of parents had complained about the lack of discipline and good manners in mainstream education.
Project manager Adrian Trowbridge, whose four-year-old son was one of the primary age pupils - stressed that he was opposed to paying for education and would rather find a good state school ‘but as a parent you have to do what you can... it is better for Matthew to be in a small team because the 12 all work so well together.’
Main image:
LEARNING: Four-year-old Matthew with two classmates.
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