La Mare de Carteret, once an award-winning secondary school, shut down for good to students earlier this year. Excitingly, this future was not to be, and it will reopen in September as a temporary sixth form! This shift is momentous for the historic institution that was a cornerstone in providing educational opportunities for many years to the community it still serves.
As Richmond School of the Arts prepares for its long-awaited reopening, the school itself has experienced a dramatic makeover aimed at welcoming students into a creative community. Local artist Ryan Dawe has participated in this effort by painting the school’s exterior. He articulated on multiple occasions hopes that the artistic visual reinforcements would create a stronger community.
“It’s an older school, and we really feel like just bringing a little bit of light would change the atmosphere there,” said Dawe. We want them to feel as though they have a stake in our future, excited to come here and be a part of our community and campus.
Helen Watson, a Psychology teacher at the new sixth form center, emphasized the importance of making young people feel valued. She stressed that creating a culture where these students feel valued begins with making sure the adults in their lives— teachers, parents, mentors— do this work themselves.
Watson highlighted the importance of adults modeling hard work. This is fundamental to helping young people feel significant and appreciated during this formative time in their lives.
La Mare de Carteret has recently reopened, converted into a sixth form. This amendment reflects the growing demand for more educational options tailored to serve older students. Its goal is to offer a caring environment in which they can grow both socially and academically.
BBC News has been following closely the incredible progress being made at La Mare de Carteret. Our entire community can’t wait for this new academic year to begin! The school’s shift to a sixth form is seen as a positive step towards revitalizing educational opportunities in the area.
