This Is Guernsey

By Gemma Hockey

PARENTS yesterday lashed out over the potential closure of three primary schools. News that La Mare de Carteret, St Andrew’s and St Sampson’s infants’ could close has sent a shockwave through the island, with parents, deputies and former head teachers voicing concerns.

St Andrew’s Parent-Teacher Association chairman Alasdair McLaren, who has two children at the school and another joining infants in September, said he was disappointed that Education was considering closure.

‘Closing the school would not just break the children’s hearts but rip the heart out of the parish,’ he said.

‘We view it as part of the parish because it’s not just about children and parents but the rest of the community.’

He said parents did not like being kept in the dark about the future of their children’s school.

‘Nobody likes uncertainty and there is obviously a degree of uncertainty here.

‘Everyone I have spoken to is behind the school and its very close family community.

‘The parents will be doing their utmost to safeguard the future of the school to try and persuade Education, and possibly the States, that it’s about children, not money,’ said Mr McLaren.

He said he would not want to see any of the primary schools closed.

The closure of the three would see more than 600 pupils switching schools and at least 30 teachers looking for new jobs.

Former head teacher Deputy David De Lisle, a firm believer in retaining the island’s community schools, said the prospect of the three being closed had come as a shock.

‘With a roll of 320 pupils, it makes little sense considering closure of La Mare de Carteret Primary, particularly as it conveniently shares a site with La Mare Secondary,’ he said.

‘For people who want to keep their children at the secondary school located in the area, the set-up is perfect.

He said St Andrew’s was an important asset to the parish’s community.

‘Community schools generally give youngsters a better start.

‘They often provide the benefit of smaller classes and closer attention to youngsters in their formative years.

‘A school such as St Andrew’s is more than simply education, it is vital to the retaining of community identity,’ he said.

In terms of environmental impact, Deputy De Lisle said it could be a disaster for school traffic.

‘Cutting the number of primary schools will also lead to a lot more bussing of children outside their community and further congestion on the roads,’ he said, adding that now was not the time for a major upheaval of the primary schools.

‘School numbers fluctuate from year to year and with the introduction of zero-10, the future is uncertain. I don’t think that this type of reorganisation should be done at this time until we see how the tax strategy and the future of the island pan out.

‘There’s already enough going on with the secondary schools and the College of Further Education.

‘That is what we should be concentrating our efforts on.’

He said parents felt comfortable with their children in schools closer to home.

‘There is plenty of evidence to suggest that if we get it right in the early years then we provide them with a better future in education.’