Princess Alexandra followed in the footsteps of her mother when she opened the Percy Hedley Senior School at Hampeth Lodge, Newcastle, on 24 September 2003.
The Princess's mother, the former Duchess of Kent, had initially opened the Percy Hedley School for children with cerebral palsy in 1954. Some 49 years on, her daughter opened the Senior School and actually met with some of the people who had been present that day in the 1950s.
The Percy Hedley Foundation is a Charitable Foundation which supports and assists people with cerebral palsy and communications difficulties. It was established in 1953 as a small charitable school for children. This was expanded in the late 1950s to include day and residential facilities for adults with cerebral palsy and extended further in the 1960s to children with communication difficulties.
The Foundation now supports over 200 children through a variety of educational means. It has a pre-school service, specialist primary and secondary schools, post-16 education, boarding and respite provision, an assessment service and a Family Support Centre. Adults are provided for through day care facilities and a number of residential and living options.
In recent years, the Foundation has been directing its efforts to the building and funding of a senior school to enhance the educational facilities already on offer. Previously, once students reached the age of 16, they were being compelled to leave the region in search of further education. The new senior school now provides that service. As Norman Stromsoy, Headteacher, commented: "At last young people with complex disabilities do not have to leave the North East to attend specialist residential colleges. We are able to provide training which prepares our young people with the skills to make a successful transition to college or work and play a full and active role in society."
Children are taught as two populations, one with cerebral palsy, the other with communication problems. At the age of 14, these are amalgamated and the students are then taught according to the type of accreditation being followed.
During the visit, the Princess was able to see a demostration of Powerchair Football and watch as students and staff showed how conductive education, a pioneering therapy method, helps children with cerebral palsy develop their independence.
The Princess's visit to the region also encompassed a visit to the Tyne and Wear Team Centre in Newcastle.
Princess Alexandra had been invited to officially open the new Centre of behalf of Fairbridge, of whom she is Patron. Based in thirteen of the most disadvantaged urban areas in the country, Fairbridge supports 13-25 year olds who are not in education, training or employment or who have been identified as being at risk of dropping out. Often these young people are without the support of their family and are on the margins of their local community.
Through the new Centre opened in Newcastle, the facilities in the region have been considerably enhanced and will help take the work of Fairbridge to a potentially wider audience.
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