Blue Peter presenter defends his former school in Shropshire over claims
He is known to millions as one of the faces of Blue Peter – but to Adams' Grammar School he is just an old pupil done good.
And today Radzi Chinyanganya showed his loyalty to the Newport school by wading into a controversy that has stemmed from an online blog.
Former A-star student, Matt Broomfield, posted the blog claiming elements of the school were "racist, homophobic and sexist" and that Adams' drilled into pupils that they were "strong and superior to the weak".
But children's TV presenter Radzi, 26, who returned this year for a school prize-giving, today said that he never experienced anything of the sort that Mr Broomfield has been claiming.
"I was at the school for seven years and it was the best seven years of my life – and I only have positive things to say about the school. I am from a broken home, I'm mixed race and originally from Wolverhampton so I used to have to catch the bus there every day and I am really proud to say that I went to Adams'.
"In the blog he talks about it being elite but what I learnt from the school is that if you work hard you can achieve anything. I started doing public speaking there and that was really my first experience of speaking in public. From that I was told by one of the teachers that I was good at it and that is why I went into presenting.
"It's a community there – and even though I have left I still feel very much a part of it."
Headteacher Michael Barratt said: "We are grateful to Radzi and all our current and former pupils, parents, governors and the local community for the huge support we have received."
See also:
Racism, sexism and homophobia claim over top Shropshire grammar school
Pupils hit back at old boys claims over Shropshire grammar school
