Robins Lane School Appeal

In March 1909, Robins Lane School began educating youngsters in Sutton. It was a council school, as opposed to Sutton National in Ellamsbridge Road, which was church sponsored. Although the junior school is long gone, the secondary school, which became a Secondary Modern, still exists as Sutton High Sports College. It relocated to its present site by Sherdley Park towards the end of the 1960s in order to accommodate more students and provide better facilities. Being no longer in Robins Lane it had to change its name.

Now it's changing again and it will become an Academy School in September 2010 in partnership with St.Helens College and Edge Hill University. There will also be a big investment in new facilities and, I understand, a partial re-build. Hopefully, this will be a boost for the school which has had its problems over the last few years and successfully raise student aspirations.

As another chapter in the life of the old Robins Lane school closes, so the school will be commemorating its heritage with celebrations planned for this July.
Brenda Williams of the school is appealing for any ex-Robins Lane and Sutton High pupils with memories of school days, photographs, school books or other memorabilia to get in touch. It sounds like an exhibition is being planned. Contact Brenda at brenda.williams@sthelens.org.uk   SRW

UPDATE July 2nd 2010

A centenary exhibition detailing the history of Robins Lane and Sutton High will take place in the Drama Studio of the school on Tuesday July 6th and Wednesday July 7th at 6pm. Anyone with a past link to the school is very welcome to attend.

Robins Lane Sec. Modern Girls School c.1956
Robins Lane Secondary Modern Girls School c.1956 - contributed by Ivy Swift

Relevant links:  Robin Lane School in Education Page; Memories of Sutton;
Partners aim to turn Sutton High into 'visionary' academy (St.Helens Star article);
School had so much success (St.Helens Star letter);

Sutton (St.Helens) in Snow!

snowflake animation
As Sutton Beauty is currently experiencing quite a number of visits from Suttoner expats from all corners of the world, I should explain that it doesn't snow that often in Blighty any more. Once a year in St.Helens is par for the course and it's very quickly gone. Whether it's a global warming phenomenon I really don't know, but February 8th was this year's 'snow day'!

This explains my excitement when it does snow and desire to share
pictures of Sutton in snow as it gives such a different look to all the sites featured in Sutton Beauty. It's not easy to capture interesting snow pictures through issues of exposure and contrast, although I'm quite pleased with how some have come out. Strangely a build-up of condensation on the lens has given a few images oil painting-like qualities. I did fall through the ice into the Sutton Mill Dam and slipped down a bank at the Clock Face Country Park in my desire to get the best possible pictures, so I do hope you enjoy them!

ducks in snow in the sutton mill dam in sthelens
Not alot of fun being a duck in the Sutton Mill Dam during a blizzard!