Linklater's sadness as she steps down from New School

Published on 09/07/2004 03:40

THE founder of an acclaimed school that caters for children unable to cope with mainstream education has stepped down as its chairwoman.

Baroness Linklater, 61, set up the New School Butterstone at Dunkeld, Perthshire, in 1992. She will be replaced by Professor Bart McGettrick, who is chairman of the Scottish Council for Independent Schools.

The New School, which has been hailed as "unique" by Professor Christopher Gillberg, a Swedish expert on learning difficulties, caters for up to 44 young people aged between 12 and 18.

Baroness Linklater, who is a Liberal Democrat peer in the House of Lords, yesterday told The Scotsman that leaving the school after 12 years was "like a bereavement".

She said: "It is sad, but I know I am leaving the school in good hands. I am delighted to be handing on to someone as respected, distinguished and experienced as Bart. He will, I know, take the school forward to ever greater things and he has my absolute trust, confidence and support."

Baroness Linklater, whose husband, Magnus, is a former editor of The Scotsman, set up the school after watching the couple’s daughter, Freya, struggle with mainstream education. Freya, who was 16 at the time, was one of nine pupils enrolled at the school when it first opened its doors.

Although it is a fee-paying school, three-quarters of those enrolled are funded by their local education authorities. Some pupils have conditions such as dyslexia or autism, while others have been severely bullied.

Baroness Linklater said: "If we are really doing what we profess to do in education, we have to acknowledge that sometimes there are some children whose needs are such that they need something different from a mainstream school.

"There are some children who do find the hurly-burly of mainstream school more than they can deal with, and what they need is a small school operation, which is what we offer."