Anger as St Andrew’s closure threat returns
Wednesday 7th January 2009, 2:30PM GMT.
Jade, 8, Dad Gordon Irish and Maisie, 6, at St Andrew’s Primary School, which could face a challenge to the Education Department’s decision made in September to keep the school open. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0698057)
A renewed fear that St Andrew’s Primary School could still face closure was met with anger from parents yesterday.
The Guernsey Press revealed that the Education Department’s decision to keep the school open could be overturned after it was believed to have amended its report to allow States members to challenge the decision in the Assembly.
The report is due to be included in this month’s Billet.
PTA chairman Maria Tostevin said that as far as the school was concerned the decision in September had been final.
‘We’re very shocked. Education categorically told us that the decision to keep our school open would be final and not up for further debate. It’s just extremely cruel to be faced with this, it seems absurd that some kind of U-turn has taken place,’ she said.
‘If it’s true that the report has been amended then, quite frankly, something stinks.’
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We have purchased two ships since then. The mentality of our states is unbelievable.
They are basically increasing traffic by forcing those that would normally walk to school into cars due to the fact that the nearest alternative school is no longer on the doorstep.
What next two supersized schools for the whole Island?
The Islanders are having their belts tightened to the point where it is painfull and the states keep chucking money around as though we will be able to keep chucking it in their direction.
Is this school building earmarked for sell off then? It would not surprise me in the least. I hope the parents fight like heavy weights to keep this open.
It is such a shame that the elected only hear at election time and then go deaf and extremely dumb once they have secured their positions.
Keep fighting parents and teachers. The school has been needed for many decades and will be for many more.
Good luck!
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Although I am deeply sympathetic to St Andrews school has everyone forgotten that St Sampson’s Infants has been fighting the whole way through but you never see much in the paper about their plight.
I don’t see why either of these schools should be closed they both are important to their communities. The children all love attending them and they both have family/community ethos. They are the only 2 schools in the Island that offer a decent nursery edcuation/settling in sessions prior to starting in reception but yet both are being considered for closure.
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WELL WELL THERE IS GOING TO BE A RETHINK ON ST ANDREWS SCHOOL CLOSURE. TYPICAL BEHIND THE SCENES STUFF AGAIN NO THOUGHT FOR THE HARDWORKING STAFF , THE PARENTS ,CHILDREN P TA ETC. NOW THEN HOW ABOUT THOSE DEPUTIES WHO WISH TO CHALLENGE THE DESCION TO KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN COME FORWARD AND TELL THE ELECTORATE WHAT THEY WANT TO PUT IN ITS PLACE. GIVEN THAT THE SCHOOL IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFULL AND IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE COMMUNITY . IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY DID NOT LIKE THE SUCCESSFUL PROTESTS LED BY THE P T A AND ALL THOSE HARDWORKING WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF ST ANDREWS. I SUPPOSE IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT SOME MEMBERS OF OUR GOVERMENT OUR NOT USE TO SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS BECAUSE MOST OF THEM HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY . THIS IS NEW GROUND TO THEM.
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Dumbing down of Education will lead to Socio Economic problems later in particular crime.
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