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| School holds assembly for five students lost in Grenfell Tower fire | School holds assembly for five students lost in Grenfell Tower fire |
| (7 months later) | |
| Kensington Aldridge academy principal describes mood at the school as subdued but positive, and praises students for their resilience | |
| Sally Weale Education correspondent | |
| Thu 29 Jun 2017 19.30 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 20.59 GMT | |
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| A secondary school situated next to Grenfell Tower lost four pupils in the disaster, plus a fifth who had only recently left, it has emerged. | A secondary school situated next to Grenfell Tower lost four pupils in the disaster, plus a fifth who had only recently left, it has emerged. |
| Special assemblies have been held for students at Kensington Aldridge academy (KAA) to remember the pupils who are missing, presumed dead. As yet their names have not been officially confirmed. | Special assemblies have been held for students at Kensington Aldridge academy (KAA) to remember the pupils who are missing, presumed dead. As yet their names have not been officially confirmed. |
| The school principal, David Benson, described the assemblies as “terribly sad but very important” and said they were an important step in the school’s grieving process. | The school principal, David Benson, described the assemblies as “terribly sad but very important” and said they were an important step in the school’s grieving process. |
| He described the mood at the school, which is relatively small with just 660 pupils, as subdued but positive, and he praised students for their resilience. | He described the mood at the school, which is relatively small with just 660 pupils, as subdued but positive, and he praised students for their resilience. |
| Because of the close proximity of the school to Grenfell, it was always likely that the victims would include KAA pupils. | Because of the close proximity of the school to Grenfell, it was always likely that the victims would include KAA pupils. |
| Four separate assemblies were held on Wednesday so the difficult news could be shared with smaller groups of pupils. In each, the five missing students were remembered individually and special memories of each of them were shared. | Four separate assemblies were held on Wednesday so the difficult news could be shared with smaller groups of pupils. In each, the five missing students were remembered individually and special memories of each of them were shared. |
| In a letter to parents, the principal explained: “We did not take the decision to do this lightly but took extensive advice from experts and also were obliged to act in sync with what other local schools were doing. | In a letter to parents, the principal explained: “We did not take the decision to do this lightly but took extensive advice from experts and also were obliged to act in sync with what other local schools were doing. |
| “The overwhelming advice we have been given is that because so many of our students have heard this news from the media, police and from being around Grenfell Tower themselves, the school now repeating what the police have said publicly should help our students in the grieving process. | “The overwhelming advice we have been given is that because so many of our students have heard this news from the media, police and from being around Grenfell Tower themselves, the school now repeating what the police have said publicly should help our students in the grieving process. |
| “We have spoken to extended families of those missing to ensure that they are supportive of us doing this.” | “We have spoken to extended families of those missing to ensure that they are supportive of us doing this.” |
| Since the fire, the KAA school building has been closed and pupils have been moved to two other London schools nearby to take their lessons – years 7 to 11 are at Burlington Danes academy, while sixth-form students are at Latymer upper school. | Since the fire, the KAA school building has been closed and pupils have been moved to two other London schools nearby to take their lessons – years 7 to 11 are at Burlington Danes academy, while sixth-form students are at Latymer upper school. |
| In a subsequent statement to parents, posted on the school’s website on Thursday, Benson said: “Thank you for all of your support since the terribly sad but very important assemblies we held yesterday. | In a subsequent statement to parents, posted on the school’s website on Thursday, Benson said: “Thank you for all of your support since the terribly sad but very important assemblies we held yesterday. |
| “Whilst difficult, they were an important step in the grieving process, and will help us to now remember and celebrate the lives of those we have lost. Our school has been subdued but positive today, and students continue to show great resilience. Counselling, of course, continues wherever needed.” | “Whilst difficult, they were an important step in the grieving process, and will help us to now remember and celebrate the lives of those we have lost. Our school has been subdued but positive today, and students continue to show great resilience. Counselling, of course, continues wherever needed.” |
| The statement also sought to clear up confusion over the number of KAA pupils missing after the London Evening Standard reported that seven pupils had died. | The statement also sought to clear up confusion over the number of KAA pupils missing after the London Evening Standard reported that seven pupils had died. |
| The principal said: “Please reassure your children that whilst it is extremely sad, the five students we talked about in assembly are the only ones that are missing. The last thing I want is to add, in any way, to the grief our community is feeling at this time.” | The principal said: “Please reassure your children that whilst it is extremely sad, the five students we talked about in assembly are the only ones that are missing. The last thing I want is to add, in any way, to the grief our community is feeling at this time.” |
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