HAVING been a teacher at Robins Lane Secondary School and Sutton High Sports College, I was very interested in your article on The Academy (Star, September 3).

I started teaching at Robins Lane in 1960 and finished in 1999.

I then became site manager from 1999 to 2008, making a total of almost 48 years. I still have a copy of a speech, which I made when Robins Lane closed and the school moved to the Sherdley Park site.

While reading the article in the Star entitled ‘Partners aim to turn Sutton High into visionary academy’, I had a feeling that something had been missed, ie that 2009 would have been the centenary of Robins Lane Secondary Modern School.

As the result of some research by Mrs B Williams and Mr D Edwards, librarians and archivists, it was discovered that the school, now known as Sutton High Sports College, was opened on March 1, 1909 at 9am with 489 pupils.

It would be sad not to remember that the vision of a sports and science based academy is rooted in the success of Robins Lane Secondary School.

Despite the lack of proper sports facilities the school achieved many successes in rugby league, football, life- saving and athletics, winning the Town Sports for eight consecutive years.

Many apprenticeships were obtained by lots of pupils in local firms and David Drysdale was the first one to go to Oxford University in 1981.

The school has changed its name, function and location during the past 40 years and now looks forward to another one in the near future.

It would be impossible to mention all the staff and pupils who have contributed to the success of this notable school and college.

Albert Greenall.

Lytham St Annes.

Teacher (1960 – 1999) Site manager (1999 – 2008)