I read with great interest the article by Joan Keays, the first Headmistress of Prescot Girls' Grammar School who enjoyed thirteen happy years there. Being part-way through my first year as Headteacher of Prescot School, I am able allude to many parallels in our experiences and many of the aspects of school that she describes are still with us today.

The school grounds are a major asset and continue to provide the school with a wealth of wildlife and plant life which prove to be valuable resources for the science and art departments. Pheasants still roam the grounds in the morning but they tend to beat a hasty retreat as the pupils arrive. When the wind is in the right direction, the roars of the lions from the Safari Park create interesting sound effects which can be a useful threat against potential miscreants! In addition, due to the drainage problems in the grounds, we can often rival Martin Mere with our resident duck population.

There have, of course, been significant changes to the school in recent times. A major refurbishment programme has given us some of the best facilities under the Knowsley authority, particularly in the field of Information and Communications Technology. It is becoming increasingly common for our pupils to learn about great composers, famous artists and scientific inventions and to surf the internet to research their history homework. However, this is not to deny the importance of books and reading. The library of the new Gilbert Lathum wing of the school is a bright and attractive place and many pupils regularly visit to immerse themselves in the exciting world of literature. A unique feature of the school is the climbing wall and we have a school climbing team which achieves great success in local and regional competitions.

A strong commitment to high standards still exists at Prescot School today and I feel privileged to work with such dedicated and caring staff. The School is now eight form entry with pupils coming from a variety of backgrounds, some of whom provide us with real challenges. As a mother of two teenagers, I am very conscious of the enormous trust that parents place in schools and the consequent responsibility to ensure that all children thrive and achieve success during their time at Prescot. My sincere wish is that the present pupils of Prescot will feel the same pride and affection for the School and have similarly fond memories of their time here as the "Old Boys and Girls" have to this day.