NEWS of a close vote to recommend its closure has come as a silver lining for St Sampson’s Infants School campaigners.
‘That is very interesting. It gives us encouragement and hope,’ said PTA chairman Nick Batiste (pictured). The Education board took the decision to recommend the closure of St Sampson’s Infants by a majority of three to two.
Mr Batiste said he imagined it was not down to just one vote as to whether it stayed open or not but on all possible scenarios which would affect both their school and St Andrew’s Primary School – which it has been recommended should remain open.
Board members all visited St Sampson’s Infants before the decision was made. ‘My initial reaction is still the same. The PTA will continue with the campaign, a sentiment shared by the head teacher.’
The PTA is due to meet on Monday for its AGM and will discuss the next step.
‘There was a lot of emotion and disappointment when the decision to close was announced, but we had to look at things with a clear head. Getting too het up and firing off with a knee-jerk reaction isn’t going to get us anywhere,’ he said.
Mr Batiste added that a worrying development had been the announcement concerning combining Vale Infants and Vale Junior to create a primary.
‘Our argument has always been that smaller schools are better. The primary school argument is something new that we need to consider and discuss sensibly,’ he said.
Vale Infants head teacher Jasmine Bynam was reluctant to comment yesterday on the Education board’s recommendation.
‘At this moment in time my thoughts are with our two head teacher colleagues and their school communities.
‘The Education board’s decision has been made after careful and serious consideration, but until the States meets in January the final outcome will not be known,’ she said.
Article posted on 26th September, 2008 - 2.29pm
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