OUR recent front page story reporting concerns over the behaviour of some Wilmslow High School pupils at local shops prompted this passionate reponse from Year 11 pupil Benjamin Butterworth in praise of his school and fellow students ...

THESE days, we can hardly escape the daily barrage of stories proclaiming the abominable behaviour of Britain’s youth.

In just this last week there have been multiple stabbings of teenagers, by teenagers, in the London area alone. With story after story detailing the actions of violent gang feuds, rapes, muggings and other perturbing criminality, it would be perfectly understandable for us to give up any hope at some sort of truce.

Indeed, even our very own Wilmslow has been affected by this unwelcome spate of ‘anti-social’ behaviour, with the Wilmslow Express recently reporting on how Wilmslow High students have turned the town centre into a supposed ‘war-zone’, according to local shopkeepers. Of course, in the perpetual commotion of media attention youth-crime receives, it is all too easy to forget that these are, by the way, the actions of a mere misguided minority.

Thankfully – not that we should need to be thankful – Wilmslow and its surrounding villages have not suffered the plight of such a brazen felony. But recent accusations that Wilmslow High School students had been ‘pilfering’ and issuing out ‘verbal abuse’ were certainly a cause for concern - not only from a behavioural point of view, but also for the rest of the Wilmslow High student-body, for whom the same brush will tar.

As a proud member of the so-called ‘maroon-army’ myself, I felt most disappointed, even infuriated at the front page story in the Express: a story that didn’t at all typify the actions of the vast majority of Wilmslow high students, but that obscured the school’s deservedly good reputation.

In recent years, the school has continued to grow in both its academic and sporting achievements, taking on the motto of former headteacher Roy Lyon, who famously proclaimed that it’s about taking the school from ‘good, to great’. Although many of those involved with the Holly Road establishment would claim already that it’s great.

In December last year the school underwent its mandatory Ofsted inspection, when inspectors concluded that it was deserving of their second highest grade, with almost all aspects of the sixth-form department being classed as ‘outstanding’.

What characterises Wilmslow high, which received ‘Sports College’ status in 2003, however, is the positive, studious and warm-hearted nature in which the school day is conducted. Far from merely teaching students just what they need to know for their examinations, teachers offer up an ethos: a way of conducting oneself that stretches farther than lessons, but encourages students to be active, considerate members of their community.

This culture of self-motivation and neighbourliness is evident in the large amount of charity work done by students, having last year raised thousands of pounds for a number of different charities, including ‘Guide Dogs For The Blind’ and the Wilmslow Rotary Club charities.

The school also offers month long ‘World Challenge’ trips, which will commence once more next June, when 40 year 12 and 13 students, including myself, will head off to the poverty-stricken region of Kenya partaking in renewable development projects.

Being Wilmslow’s only school, it inevitably has those who struggle to behave in a manner that their school, parents and community would be proud of, but delinquency is a trait of human fallibility.

Wilmslow high is a beacon of vibrant and unfaltering accomplishment, whereby students everyday strive towards their own, challenging goals: continuing the maroon-army tradition of prospering – whatever the circumstances.

So rather than presuming actions of primitive, unfavourable behaviour impend, take a breath of fresh air next time you see the maroon-militia heading your way, because we really aren’t that bad. Dare I say it: we’re great.