Don’t be quick to judge today’s young people - head

HATHERSHAW College’s new principal says youngsters should be considered less harshly.

Speaking at his first school presentation evening, Dave McEntee paid tribute to his students.

He said: “It often saddens me that as a society we are often very quick to make negative judgments about the youth of today, based on the misdemeanours of a tiny minority.

“As a man who has lived all my life in Oldham, was educated in Oldham and works in Oldham it genuinely matters to me that as a college we do all we can to help nurture well-rounded young people who will go on to make a positive contribution to the town.

“It is easy to forget that schools have a much wider remit than ensuring that students achieve the best possible GCSE results. While examination results are crucial, it’s important for us to recognise some of the non-academic activities that help to mould young people into responsible citizens.”

Mr McEntee told guests the college is now above the national average for attendance levels and in 2013/14, recorded the second-highest attendance across all Oldham’s secondary schools.

GCSE results earned Hathershaw College the title of most improved school in the borough.