Star date: 18th June 2015

EX STAFF AT ST GEORGE'S HIGH SCHOOL FURY OVER `TACTLESS' NO OFFENCE SUICIDE SCENE

Ex staff at the former St George's RC High School in Little Hulton were horrified while watching this week's episode of Channel 4's cop comedy drama No Offence, filmed on location in the school which was controversially closed by Salford Council last year.

A scene depicted a pupil about to commit suicide by jumping off the school roof into a courtyard below, which was, in reality, a memorial garden created by St George's pupils in memory of a respected teacher who died when he fell from a cliff. The No Offence production team has apologised for `any upset caused'.

Full details here...

In Tuesday night's episode of Channel 4's cop comedy drama, No Offence, a pupil was seen running through a school to escape the clutches of the police, before ascending to the roof and threatening to jump off when cornered.

Below was a courtyard with a large tree where the other school students gathered to watch whether the girl would commit suicide, as they shouted `Jump! Jump! Jump!'...

The school scenes were filmed on the site of St George's RC High School in Little Hulton, controversially closed down last year by Salford City Council after a bitter battle by the community to save it (see previous Salford Star article – click here).

Former St George's staff contacted the Salford Star after watching the traumatic scenes in No Offence...

"The area of the school filmed was known as the Vettesse Memorial Garden, designed by pupils responding to the accidental death of a much admired and respected teacher, Lio Vettesse" said one "Lio died when he fell from a cliff in Heysham as a result of a freak accident. It is to be hoped that his family do not learn of this incredible coincidence. What a way to treat a cherished much admired former teacher and the institution he devoted many years to."

Another ex member of staff explained: "I was present in that square when the tree was planted followed by a short service and prayers with pupils and staff. The scene last night was short but a critical incident. I dread to think what pupils might have thought about this, and I dread to think what other dramas are lined up to besmirch the legacy of a building that meant so much to so many generations of people."

Abbott Vision, which makes No Offence, has now apologised for any offence caused by the programme...

"The production company had not been made aware that the school location that they filmed a scene from last night's episode of No Offence in, was indeed a memorial garden, and can only apologise for any upset caused. And can certainly understand Salford viewers' sensitivity regarding the garden and that particular scene now that they have been made aware" said a spokesperson.

An ex member of St George's staff added: "I do not blame Channel 4, they could not be aware of such sensitivities but who does have the final say in what is being filmed there? Does nobody care? It was, I thought, rather tactless to ignore the brass plaque on the wall and the tree planted in his memory. I wonder where the fee went to?"

The school is owned by Salford Council, so presumably the fee went to the Council, which now appears to be hawking its about-to-be-bulldozed buildings to tv companies. This latest incident follows the debacle following Peter Kay filming in Whit Lane and disrespecting the community (see previous Salford Star article – click here).

Meanwhile, the final irony for St George's School comes next week when Salford City Council's Cabinet meets to try to address the forthcoming shortage of secondary school places in Little Hulton and wider Salford.

The proposal is to increase the capacity of the PFI Harrop Fold School, next door to the St George's site, at a cost of £130,000, to create space for an extra 270 pupils...

"The demand that has been felt across the primary sector is now beginning to feed
into the secondary estate" states the Council report "Officers have carried out a significant piece of work around the future secondary demand and current projections are showing that an additional 3,000 places will be required over the next 7 years (by 2021/22) with initial pressure being felt across year 7."

In 2010, the School's Adjudicator ruled that St George's should stay open after a massive fight to save the school which brought thousands of people onto the streets of Salford, led by pupils and ex pupils like Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley and boxer Jamie Moore.

This was followed by a statement from the then Leader of Salford Council, John Merry, who said "I want to make it absolutely clear that our proposal for St George's is for its refurbishment on the existing site" (see here). Instead, the school was shut down last year. The offence to the Little Hulton community continues...

• See also previous Salford Star article – Controversial St George's Playing Field To Be Sold For Housing – click here