St Lawrence College Closure Protest
Friday 27th February
On Friday afternoon, parents, staff, alumni and members of the local community gathered peacefully outside St Lawrence College to express their deep concern regarding the proposed merger and closure of the St Lawrence College site. Ahead of the protest guidance was issued by St Lawrence College that the school would be accessible only to those picking up students and the gates, which are usually left open, were locked.
Parent’s & Pupils Locked Out
The protest was conducted respectfully and without incident – gathering at Newlands and making its way down to the Main School gates where an address was delivered about the purpose of the gathering. Almost 300 people in attendance stood in unity to support pupils, teachers and families affected by the uncertainty surrounding the proposal. The central message of the demonstration was not one of hostility, but of solidarity and a clear call for transparency and dialogue.
Speaking at the protest and addressing the crowd Parisa Tarjomani, former pupil and teacher at the school emphasised “St Lawrence College is more than bricks and mortar. It is friendships. It is mentorship and belonging. It is opportunity, livelihoods and community. It is part of the fabric of this town.”
Protest Address
(Parisa Tarjomani, words by Laura Holden)
During the gathering, organisers delivered a formal letter outlining three specific requests:
1. Transparency – Access to the documents supporting the decisions taken, including meeting minutes and voting records.
2. Financial clarity – Access to draft financial accounts to allow the community to understand the school’s financial position and how it got to this stage.
3. Open dialogue – A formal meeting with the Board of Governors, Mr Brown (Head of College), the Bursar and a representative from Repton to discuss the proposal and explore whether an alternative path forward exists.
The protest follows what families describe as insufficient communication surrounding the proposed merger. Parents state that while they were informed of the proposal, they were not consulted, and that key questions remain unanswered.
A core question raised publicly on Friday was:
Is there a viable path to keeping the St Lawrence College site open?
Organisers have requested a formal response to their letter by Thursday 5th March, citing the impact that ongoing uncertainty is having on pupils, staff and families. Students across primary, secondary and sixth form stages have already passed key application deadlines for alternative schools, leaving families facing immediate uncertainty about their options.
Parents Demand Transparency
(Laura Holden)
The group maintains that it will continue to pursue constructive engagement and hopes that transparent dialogue can still take place before any final decision is made.
What Happens next?
An open meeting for all including community stakeholders, parents, students and alumni will be held at 6:30pm on Tuesday 3rd March at the Granville Theatre, Ramsgate.
On Thursday 5th March at 4:15pm a meeting with parents will be held at St Lawrence College.