Final bell rings at St Margaret's

THEY said goodbye to their friends, signed each other's blouses for posterity and gave thank-you gifts to their teachers.

But this was no normal end-of-term farewell for the pupils at St Margaret's. After 120 years, the school has closed its doors for good after going into administration.

Pupils held back their tears as they said goodbye to teachers and classmates they may never see again.

Some have got places in other private schools, while others face an anxious wait to find out whether they will be catered for in council-run schools.

The pupils will bid their final farewells at a special concert tonight.

Emma Roman, 17, said: "Today, it's actually really hit me. It's such a small school and we are all so close. We are now all moving off in different directions. Everyone is upset."

Her cousin, Nikki Emlick, 16, added: "I have been here since P4 so it's been hard. Everyone finds it hard to believe we are not coming back."

There was also anger amongst parents, who blame the governors for not telling them sooner that the school was in such a dire financial position.

After finding out via e-mail that the school had gone into administration, they launched a fundraising campaign, but were unsuccessful in their attempt to take over the running of the school. Many feel that if they'd had more time, they could have raised the funds and come up with a viable plan.

Lisa Ahmed, vice-chair of the Parents and Friends Association, said: "Why close a school that's 120 years old without any notice? That's the most galling thing – nobody was given the chance to save it."

Tanya Waite, whose six-year-old daughter Aimie was at St Margaret's, faces an anxious wait to see if she will be able to get a place at the council-run South Morningside Primary.

She said: "There are kids from her class going there and at least she would have some friends. If they (the governors] had spoken to us sooner, we could have made such a difference, but hindsight is a wonderful thing."

Richard Harvey, head of the junior school, said: "As a head who has worked with these children and knows their needs, I hope and pray that those needs will be met and the confidence they have developed will be carried on."