MOSCOW, October 17 (RIA Novosti) - A small UK primary school, which was at risk of closure due to its low student count, has been saved after letters from the students addressed to Prince William, Kate Middleton and their one-year old son Prince George gained national attention, the Telegraph reported on Friday.
"The story got a lot of publicity and certainly got people talking about us which is a good thing," said Amy Bekker Wrench, associate head teacher at the “lucky” Chirton school.
In 2012, the school was told to enroll a minimum 90 children to be considered feasible, as reported by Gazette & Herald. However, only 19 pupils attended the school at that time, with just 4 more joining the study last year. With the school at risk of closure, 11 pupils, aged from 7 to 11, wrote letters to the royal couple and their son asking for help. The children described how much they wanted to keep the school open and invited Prince George to attend the classes when he has reached the right age.
School teachers and children hoped that such undertaking could help to prevent the school’s closure. They were taken completely by surprise when all of the pupils received personal answers from Kate and William, with a photo depicting the royal pair and Prince George in his mother’s arms attached, according to Bath Chronicle.
In one of these letters the royal pair said that “Chirton Primary with its beautiful large grounds [is] the ideal school for Prince George.”
After the correspondence, which took place in the spring 2014, the school gained national attention and the students’ numbers increased, forcing local authorities to keep the educational facility open. Many call it the “Prince George effect” as a “potential future enrollment” of the young royal family member is considered the main factor for the school’s popularity to grow.
The royal pair is well-known for its careful attitude towards children’s issues and active participation in charitable activities. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge jointly support UNICEF, Teenage Cancer Trust and Child Bereavement Charity. According to the Telegraph, Kate Middleton is a patron of “The Art Room” project designed to develop children’s self-confidence through art and improve their social skills. She also sponsors East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) which provides care and treatment for children in critical condition.
