Schools handed over on time and on budget

By Zoe Ash

Director of education Derek Neale, left, receives the keys to the schools from R. G. Falla project director Peter Gregory. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0620011)

EDUCATION has been given the keys to the doors of St Sampson’s High and Le Murier schools.
Contractor R. G. Falla handed the development over to the department yesterday.
‘When you see it from conception through the design and planning to today in all its glory, it is amazing,’ said Geraint ap Sion, planning manager for schools and project director for the reorganisation of the secondary schools.
‘It really looks fantastic and everyone involved is very proud to be a part of it. The pupils, staff and community in general will all benefit from this.
‘This is an asset for Guernsey, not just for St Sampson’s. It is part of the future of the island,’ he said.
Swimming training, which currently takes place at Beau Sejour, will relocate to the six-lane pool from early next year.
Pupils aged 11 to 16 will transfer primarily from St Sampson’s School, but also from St Peter Port and Vale.
There will be a staggered start over two days, Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 September, to cope with any teething problems.
Years 7 and 11 and older pupils from Le Murier will start on the Tuesday.
The high school has a maximum capacity of 720 pupils, with up to 130, ranging in age from 11 to 19, at Le Murier.
Head teachers Hazel Tetlaw, of St Sampson’s High, and Alan Brown, of Le Murier, cannot wait to settle in.
Mr Brown said both schools would benefit from the shared facilities.
‘Coming in here today it looks really impressive. The sport facilities, in particular, are phenomenal,’ he said.
Miss Tetlaw said she felt a combination of trepidation and excitement about moving into the new school.
‘This is an incredible opportunity and we want to make it as smooth as possible from the outset. The starting of a new term is always quite hectic, but this is going to be challenging,’ she said.
Work started on the schools on 12 July 2006. Up to 200 workers were on site at any one time.
The project was finished on time and on budget.
Peter Gregory, R. G. Falla’s project director for the schools, said they were completed in sections allowing teachers access to the school from May up to four months ahead of schedule.
‘This has been a major project. This is a big school, even by UK standards. The team from R. G. Falla is extremely proud to have been involved with this,’ he said.
Mr ap Sion said Education had been assured by the Environment Department that all traffic calming measures would be in place by the time the schools opened.
He said completion of the Baubigny schools was the first phase of a wider project which will see an overhaul of States-run education.
Subject to planning applications and funding, work will now focus on Les Beaucamps.