Phill Walters from Building & Technical Services makes sure Amherst’s new boiler is ready for the Christmas term. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0618090)
SCHOOLS are getting a summer makeover as part of Education’s ongoing renovation work.
Projects include reroofing, asbestos removal, cladding and general repairs. Work began at the start of the summer holidays and will be finished by the time pupils return in September.
The timing allows substantial repairs to be carried out without disrupting the operation of the schools.
Grammar, Les Beaucamps and Forest were some of the 20 needing maintenance. These also include St Anne’s in Alderney and Herm Primary. The work is costing nearly £1m. in total.
‘The spotlight may be on the rebuilding of schools as we put the finishing touches to the new St Sampson’s High and Le Murier,’ said Education minister Carol Steere.
‘But we shouldn’t forget that nearly all our schools will be having some kind of refurbishment, improvement or redecoration over the next month or so.’
Major projects include reroofing at St Martin’s, Castel, Amherst and Vauvert Primary schools. Amherst and Castel also get a new boiler. La Mare de Carteret was further cladded following on from last year and some windows have been replaced. Maintenance manager Chris Dyer said that as the windows were the originals, it was not a case of replacing one or two, but all of them.
‘It’s a big project,’ said Mr Dyer. ‘We started planning this months in advance.’
With the closure of St Peter Port to new pupils and the relocation of its pupils, temporary accommodation is being moved from the College of FE to La Mare de Carteret. The huts will be refurbished and fully equipped in time for the next school year.
‘We need to rebuild this school,’ said Deputy Steere. ‘We are hoping that the States will agree with us that Les Beaucamps is a very high priority along with La Mare de Carteret. We hope that they will give the go-ahead by the end of this year.
‘This was the pledge that the States made in 2001 with the 11-plus debate.
‘I think that they must deliver on that.
‘We have been waiting patiently, pupils and parents have been waiting patiently and it needs to happen.
‘This is a high priority for the Education
Department.’
Article posted on 7th August, 2008 - 2.29pm
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