LEARNING at home during the coronavirus lockdown for pupils at one Runcorn school has been boosted thanks to the generosity of a famous former student. John Bishop has delivered 100 brand new laptops to Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy to ensure that pupil’s education is not ‘written off’. The comedian attended the school when it was Brookvale High from 1978 to 1983, and the building proudly bears his name on a heritage blue plaque at the front of the school in honour of his contribution to local charities as well as his services to arts. When asked why he wanted to help, John said that allowing children to be ‘left behind’ due to the pandemic would be ‘shameful’.
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John said: The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but it has also illustrated the gulf that exists in some parts of of society - from the issue of free school meals, to the access of devices to facilitate home learning. As a child I qualified for free school meals, so I know I would have been in one of the families that needed help to gain access to a laptop.
Childhood: The TV star, who was recently announced to be joining Dr Who, sent the laptops to Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy in Runcorn, formerly Brookvale High when he attended (pictured as a child)