Head boy defends Beaconsfield teenagers (From Bucks Free Press)

Head boy Sam Bridgeworth defends Beaconsfield teenagers

1:25pm Monday 13th February 2012 in News By Lawrence Dunhill

Sam Bridgeworth and Connie Faulkner

A HEAD boy says youngsters in Beaconsfield have been “grossly misrepresented” - following claims by the town mayor that his school’s reputation is in decline.

Mayor Richard Keith wrote an open letter to the headteacher of The Beaconsfield School last month, accusing a group of pupils of “anti-social behaviour” in the Old Town.

He said their behaviour was “adding to the decline in the local reputation” of the school, and felt the headteacher should be made aware of the problems (see link below).

But at a town council meeting on Thursday, 18-year-old Sam Bridgeworth said: “The young people of Beaconsfield are grossly misrepresented.

“Though there may be a small minority engaging in anti-social behaviour, the majority of our students are part of a caring, supportive community where they are stimulated and challenged....

“The town council should perhaps look at more activities for young people to do.”

Sam and head girl Connie Faulkner, 17, also listed all the positive things that pupils have been involved in, including charity fundraising, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and a joint-project with pensioners at a care home.

Headteacher John Fletcher told the meeting: “The students in my school are not always perfect, I’m sure you weren’t always perfect as well.

“The vast majority are fine upstanding members of the community. Some of them will sit in here in the future I’m sure.”

It was suggested that councillors carry out a survey of school pupils to gather ideas for projects that would give them more to do in the town.

A BMX and skate park have previously been suggested.