Daughter reveals her pride in father's work creating much-loved Northampton school after news of its closure

The daughter of a former headteacher of St Peter's Independent School in Northampton has expressed her sadness that the school is due to close.

Last month, the trustees announced that the school in Lingswood Park, Blackthorn will not reopen at the start of the 2020/2021 school year.

The non-selective independent school, which caters for boys and girls aged three to 16, celebrated its 40th anniversary towards the end of last year.

Since it opened in 1979, the school has been a big part of the education sector in the town, however, the current pandemic greatly affected the school and its finances.

Louisa Fitzgerald's father, Gerald Smith, was the founder and headmaster of the school for 30 years, and her mother taught there too.

"My father’s aim was to create a non-selective, family orientated, low-fee-paying school, for pupils aged from 4 to 18 years," Louisa said.

"I remember when the school first opened in 1979 in Abington Church Rooms, initially with 28 pupils aged 9-12 years.

"Classrooms had to be set up each morning and desks, etc, stored away each evening. Four years later, land was acquired from the council at Lingswood Park and temporary buildings were built on the site. That is when I was old enough to join the school (my three brothers also attended). Gradually, over the years, the present buildings were developed with help from generous patrons and money raised from numerous fundraising events.

"It was a caring, characterful and unique school. Our curriculum covered both academic, artistic and practical subjects. As well as much-loved sporting events, regular exciting drama productions were staged and the Prep department performed an annual nativity play which, for several years, featured a pupil’s pony, sheep and (for one year) some chickens - and always our own, much loved, school dog," Louisa said.

"In the school holidays we had trips abroad which were always great fun and past pupils still share happy memories of wonderful adventures in France, Italy, Malta and Greece.

"In 1993, my father initiated the rescue of refugee families from Bosnia, and their children were educated at the school. The school became known nationally and we often had visits from numerous television, newspaper and radio companies.

"In 2009, after completion of the final building, my parents’ aim had been accomplished and they both retired," Louisa said.

"Any pupils who past through St Peter’s have a special bond and regularly keep in contact, hold mini-reunions and sharing anecdotes and fond memories. We still think of ourselves as one big family.

"Needless to say, myself and my brothers are extremely proud of and grateful to my parents for all of their accomplishments in providing such an excellent and unique education for so many children.

"The school motto was ‘Labor omnia vincit’ - ‘perseverance brings success’. They are the epitome of this; they had a vision and successfully grew from acorn to oak."