Royal joy for Brighton school pupils

Sophie Countess of Wessex meets Lana Cracknell at Brighton College Buy this photo » Sophie Countess of Wessex meets Lana Cracknell at Brighton College

Little Lana Cracknell was overjoyed to meet Sophie, Countess of Wessex during a royal visit to Brighton.

Lana, six, is a Year 1 pupil at Brighton College’s pre-prep school.

She joined her friends and fellow pupils at the college’s new Diamond Jubilee Pavilion at New Ground in East Brighton Park.

When Sophie and her husband, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, heard about it they were eager to open it.

A school spokeswoman said that they were delighted the couple visited.

She said: “Lana was so pleased she managed to curtsy properly and hand over her posy.

“The Countess of Wessex and the Earl of Wessex were lovely and we were pleased they visited.

“We were very grateful and everyone had a wonderful time.”

Comments(22)

Ligand Fields says...
12:09pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Oh 'Earl' eh? And how did he get that then? I'll tell you! By exploiting the workers! And hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. I mean, if I went round calling myself a Duke, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!

Athena says...
1:41pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Ligand Fields wrote:
Oh 'Earl' eh? And how did he get that then? I'll tell you! By exploiting the workers! And hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. I mean, if I went round calling myself a Duke, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!
What silly comments. He's an earl because he's the Queen's son and an heir to the throne. The Queen is not a bint, she is the Head of State of this and numerous other countries, mostly by their own choice. You might think all this antiquated (not aquatic), but that's how our constitutions work. The Royal Family is exploited by us, having no freedom to do what they want. It's big business and politicians which sometimes take chances to exploit the workers, just as some non-workers exploit the State. The Queen, unlike the Presidents of the USA and France, is apolitical and actually helps to balance the way our State is run.

Ligand Fields says...
1:57pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Athena, I think you badly need to visit Youtube and do a quick search for "Monty Python Holy Grail Constitutional Peasant". But you won't, because you rather be part of the violence inherent in the system. You saw them oppressing me, didn't you? BLOODY PEASANT

aBloke says...
2:04pm Thu 5 Jul 12

wonder if Lana and the other Year 1 pupils were thinking the same as Ligand Fields? oh no, that's right, they probably kept politics etc out of it on this occasion and just enjoyed their pre-prep school event for what it was - hope the kids enjoyed their Royal visit and had a good day! (regardless of whether I/you agree with the Royal-ness of it all)

HJarrs says...
2:42pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Did they carry on to visit any state run schools? How about an uplifting visit for the majority of B&H schools children, particularly when considering that they receive £141K per year from a parliamentry annuity i.e. us. Sadly, the state schools probably didn't have the money to build a Diamond Jubilee Pavilion, but a visit would have been nice anyway.

Athena says...
3:17pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Ligand Fields wrote:
Athena, I think you badly need to visit Youtube and do a quick search for "Monty Python Holy Grail Constitutional Peasant". But you won't, because you rather be part of the violence inherent in the system. You saw them oppressing me, didn't you? BLOODY PEASANT
He's not a Constitutional Peasant. He's a very naughty boy.

Athena says...
3:21pm Thu 5 Jul 12

HJarrs wrote:
Did they carry on to visit any state run schools? How about an uplifting visit for the majority of B&H schools children, particularly when considering that they receive £141K per year from a parliamentry annuity i.e. us. Sadly, the state schools probably didn't have the money to build a Diamond Jubilee Pavilion, but a visit would have been nice anyway.
Think how much income Brighton College brings to Brighton. Think how much it saves the State when its fee-paying parents contribute rather than take out of the system, as well as paying that part of their local tax contribution towards state education which they do not actually receive.

rolivan says...
5:07pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Athena wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Did they carry on to visit any state run schools? How about an uplifting visit for the majority of B&H schools children, particularly when considering that they receive £141K per year from a parliamentry annuity i.e. us. Sadly, the state schools probably didn't have the money to build a Diamond Jubilee Pavilion, but a visit would have been nice anyway.
Think how much income Brighton College brings to Brighton. Think how much it saves the State when its fee-paying parents contribute rather than take out of the system, as well as paying that part of their local tax contribution towards state education which they do not actually receive.
I am trying to think but I can't at the moment.Are you trying to say that all of the Colleges income gets spent in Brighton and Hove?Do all of the Teaching Staff spend their money in the City?I always thought that East Brighton Park was owned by the Council?Are these Facilities going to be shared by other Schools?

Athena says...
5:19pm Thu 5 Jul 12

rolivan wrote:
Athena wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Did they carry on to visit any state run schools? How about an uplifting visit for the majority of B&H schools children, particularly when considering that they receive £141K per year from a parliamentry annuity i.e. us. Sadly, the state schools probably didn't have the money to build a Diamond Jubilee Pavilion, but a visit would have been nice anyway.
Think how much income Brighton College brings to Brighton. Think how much it saves the State when its fee-paying parents contribute rather than take out of the system, as well as paying that part of their local tax contribution towards state education which they do not actually receive.
I am trying to think but I can't at the moment.Are you trying to say that all of the Colleges income gets spent in Brighton and Hove?Do all of the Teaching Staff spend their money in the City?I always thought that East Brighton Park was owned by the Council?Are these Facilities going to be shared by other Schools?
I presume some of the teaching staff use the city's cinemas, restaurants, bars and clothes shops, as do the pupils. Those that live here pay their Council Tax, as does the school itself. Presumably the school pays rent to the Council for use of that part of the park. The new pavilion is for use by many community groups, not just the school.

rolivan says...
5:34pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Athena wrote:
rolivan wrote:
Athena wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Did they carry on to visit any state run schools? How about an uplifting visit for the majority of B&H schools children, particularly when considering that they receive £141K per year from a parliamentry annuity i.e. us. Sadly, the state schools probably didn't have the money to build a Diamond Jubilee Pavilion, but a visit would have been nice anyway.
Think how much income Brighton College brings to Brighton. Think how much it saves the State when its fee-paying parents contribute rather than take out of the system, as well as paying that part of their local tax contribution towards state education which they do not actually receive.
I am trying to think but I can't at the moment.Are you trying to say that all of the Colleges income gets spent in Brighton and Hove?Do all of the Teaching Staff spend their money in the City?I always thought that East Brighton Park was owned by the Council?Are these Facilities going to be shared by other Schools?
I presume some of the teaching staff use the city's cinemas, restaurants, bars and clothes shops, as do the pupils. Those that live here pay their Council Tax, as does the school itself. Presumably the school pays rent to the Council for use of that part of the park. The new pavilion is for use by many community groups, not just the school.
Would you also presume that the School is probably set up as a Charitable Organisation and therefore pays less Council Tax.The article infers that the Pavilion is owned by the College.What really irks me is the necessity to have to pay the equivilent of the Average Annual Salary in Fees in the hope that a child will be better Educated.My child goes to a Private school and the Fees are £200 per Annum.

Athena says...
5:39pm Thu 5 Jul 12

£200 p/a? Bargain.

rolivan says...
5:46pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Athena wrote:
£200 p/a? Bargain.
Yes it would seem, the School raises money throughout the Community with 4 or 5 big Fund raisers every year. Oh and there are only 150 pupils.Food for thought?

Athena says...
5:54pm Thu 5 Jul 12

My first thought is, where do the teachers' salaries come from? Are they voluntary workers? Who pays the rent? Or did the school buy the building? If so, how? Yes, I have many thoughts.

rolivan says...
6:03pm Thu 5 Jul 12

The Teachers Salaries are paid by the Government.The Building was owned by The Church.All that is needed then is any extras that Pupils might need.I would imagine that Brighton College gets some funding from the Government but You might need to check that out.They seem to be able to raise money to buy up lots of property in East Brighton.

Athena says...
6:08pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Ah, so it's a Church School. I used to go to a Church School, but they didn't charge us any fees at all. As far as I know, Private Schools get little, if any, Government funding. They pay their bills (salaries, rents, taxes, electricity, etc) out of the fees they raise, some of which is also used towards bursaries (free schooling) for deserving pupils whose parents can't afford the fees.

rolivan says...
6:22pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Seeing that You seem so interested I will be more Specific.I live in France and our daughter goes to the local Private School which is Catholic but You don't have to be a Practising Catholic to be a pupil.We have been here 4years and She is Bilingual in the true sense of the word in that she speaks both languages in the right tongue if you know what I mean.I had a Grammar School education and my wife was provided with a private Education which was set up by a Family Trust.I do not see why people should have to pay for their children to be educated.They are the Future and without them well who wants to go there.Here students can go right through their Education without all of the exorbitant fees that have been introduced in England.Hope I haven't bored you but I didn't want to deceive You.

Athena says...
6:45pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Most pupils in the UK pay no fees at all for their schooling. That some, like your wife's family, choose to pay hefty fees for their child's education is their own choice. Nobody in the UK is forced to pay school fees at all.

rolivan says...
6:54pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Athena wrote:
Most pupils in the UK pay no fees at all for their schooling. That some, like your wife's family, choose to pay hefty fees for their child's education is their own choice. Nobody in the UK is forced to pay school fees at all.
I agree but it isn't a level playing field.What happens to Children whose parents don't have the money to send them to a private school where in most cases student levels are lower per class and therefore children get more time spent with them.I know there are Bursaries but only a few available.I am all for Grammar Schools being reintroduced and let's get rid of the dumbing down culture.

Nitrous_McBread says...
9:51pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Ra ra ra! What a joy to have Sophie and especially Edward in our neck of the woods. He's a bit of a hero of mine actually - we share so much in common: I'm going quickly bald, I sponge off the state and have been mainly useless at everything I've tried, and I'm pretty much gay but manage to attract quite good-looking women. Plus I'm very, very good at going around looking at things, appearing moderately interested and then leaving. God bless me! I do a wonderful job.

Athena says...
10:12pm Thu 5 Jul 12

Grammar schools? Absolutely. Bring them back! A private education for those of modest means, but paid for by the State.

melinda68 says...
11:22pm Thu 5 Jul 12

eh? my nephew who is at Brighton College has already broken up for the summer holidays last Friday? When was this?

Sarah Booker says...
10:03am Fri 6 Jul 12

melinda68 wrote:
eh? my nephew who is at Brighton College has already broken up for the summer holidays last Friday? When was this?
It took place on Wednesday, July 4.

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