St Andrew’s pupils celebrate with a double break-time yesterday after being told that the school has been saved from closure. Head teacher Mary Sebire is in the centre of the picture. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0644377)
THERE were jubilant scenes at St Andrew’s Primary School yesterday. Education Minister Carol Steere announced at 9.30am in the States that the parish school, which had been threatened with closure, was safe.
‘It was relief and shock more than excitement. When they told me I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,’ said Mary Sebire, head teacher at the school. ‘I was extremely nervous and not very hopeful, to be honest.’
It has been three years and two months since the school was first earmarked for closure as part of a cost-cutting exercise by the Education Department.
It was a bittersweet result for Ms Sebire, who was head teacher at St Sampson’s Infants School for 10 years before joining St Andrew’s 13 years ago. St Sampson’s Infants School will close in July 2010.
Ms Sebire told the 150 pupils and some parents and PTA members in the school’s assembly yesterday morning. ‘I explained to the children what had happened and there was stunned silence and then lots of clapping and cheering. Then I said that we must think about the children at St Sampson’s Infants and what it would have been like if that had been us,’ she said.
Children celebrated with a double break-time and there are two parties already in the pipeline.
The Primary School’s PTA mounted a relentless campaign to keep the school open, which was embraced islandwide.
‘It is a huge relief.
‘It’s very overwhelming and we are delighted,’ said former PTA chairman Alasdair McLaren who has three children at the school, Freya, 10, Isla, 7, and four-year-old Rory.
Mr McLaren said that while there were doubts, the association had remained optimistic.
‘Everyone truly believed it was a school worth fighting for and now, finally, we can all move on and look towards a brighter future,’ he said.
Like staff, parents and pupils at the school, Mr McLaren said his heart went out to St Sampson’s Infants School and Ms Sebire had nothing but praise for the PTA.
‘I’m full of admiration for it and the brilliant job it has done. It has enabled us to do what we are here for – teaching,’ she said.
Gary Rouget has two children at the school, Freddie, 7, and five-year-old Sylvie.
Mr Rouget felt relieved that months of uncertainty were finally over.
‘I’m pleased the Education Department has recognised the tremendous value and contribution this school makes to the island,’ he said, adding that he had hoped it had made a clear case but still didn’t know what to expect.
Claire Cermont’s two children, Daisy, 8 and six-year-old Dylan, are both at the school.
‘We are ecstatic, we can’t really believe it.’
She said the staff had been brilliant throughout.
‘Daisy had been asking where she was going to have to go to school. All of those problems and doubts have just disappeared.’
She said her children had thrived at the family orientated school, as had four generations of Maxine Batiste’s family who have attended St Andrew’s since 1917 – including her daughters Annie, 8 and Lucy, 7.
‘My faith has been restored in Guernsey politicians.
‘If they had taken away this school what would have been next?’ she asked, adding that the telephone bills would have gone up in St Andrew’s yesterday.
‘This is the heart of the community. I’m looking forward to getting back to making cakes and collecting jumble, rather than spending my time helping to save the school,’ said the secretary of the PTA.
Year 6 class teacher Ian Booth had more reason than most to be celebrating yesterday – it was also his birthday.
This is Mr Booth’s second year at the school after moving to Guernsey from the UK.
‘It is a very happy day – that’s what school life should be about,’ he said, adding there was a lot of excitement at the school.
‘It’s not been the best day to try and get the children to concentrate,’ he said.
Article posted on 25th September, 2008 - 2.30pm
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