Les Beaucamps is falling apart
Friday 6th February 2009, 2:29PM GMT.
Megan Cunningham and Adam Trump study the plans for the New Les Beaucamps High.
LES Beaucamps High School needs to be rebuilt because it is literally falling apart, the Education Department has said.
The department has admitted in this month’s Billet d’Etat that a large window had recently fallen out of a first floor classroom because the rivets holding it had rusted through.
‘The weight of the window was such that it could easily have caused a fatal accident if anyone had been standing beneath it,’ said Education minister Carol Steere.
‘As a result, safety chains are now having to be fixed to more than 280 windows and many windows are now not able to be opened, causing major ventilation and cooling problems.’
Education has produced a report, to be debated at this month’s States meeting, which highlights the urgent need for the rebuilding of the 50-year-old school.
It puts the department’s case forward before March’s capital spending prioritisation debate when deputies will decide which major projects will receive immediate funding.
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It’s not falling apart, its being purposely neglected to suit a political end. Windows need replacing, that is not the end of the building. Ridiculous and cynical ploy.
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Nails take one hell of a time to rust through. As stated in post above,looks like routine maintenance has been a failure.
Sorry Deputy Steere, but you might fool most of the people, but will not fool all the people with such comments.
Seems suspicously like a self inficted wound which they expect the taxpayer to pay for.
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As a man that went to a very decent public school in England and had an excellent education I find this situation totally intolerable. I feel incredibly sorry for the children, remember it’s the children who are suffering here and through no fault of their own. If the Beaucamp kids parents could afford to live in a wealthier part of the island then their kids could go to a better school – problem solved.
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I get your point Jackie, it does seem rather “coincidental” that this comes straight after the States voted to keep St Andrews and St Sampsons schools open. One can’t help but think there is more than a little political motivation.
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Nobody seems to have noticed that the Ladies’ College, which is also owned and maintained by the states, is a building built in a similar style to Les Beaucamps. A lot of the Ladies College students also have lessons, and have done for many years, in temporary cabins.
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I agree, this is a maintenance issue. There is no excuse for letting any public building get into this state. Who was responsible and have they been sacked yet?
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Paul Le P
It should also be noted that the Director of Education is a former head of Les Beaucamps.
Malcolm Barnes
Your comment “If the Beaucamp kids parents could afford to live in a wealthier part of the island then their kids could go to a better school – problem solved” is, I hope said in jest.
If not.then it must be one of the more offensive comments for a long time.
You should find out the catchment area for Les Beaucamps. I think those in the catchment areas of Castel, StAndrews and St Martin’s will struggle to see anything amusing in your comment.
Perhaps it was tongue in cheek and not intended to offend?
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In response to this being a “Ridiculous and Cynical Ploy”.
Come on!! Get your facts straight!
Les Beaucamps should have been rebuilt 5 years ago!! Stuff like windows falling out is a reminder of what needs to be done.
Even when I was a student there, the place was falling apart, literally! And that was a long time ago. Beaucamps needs a new building and that’s a fact right there.
Why are you lot so against cutting costs by closing schools to build bigger and better ones? No one is going to lose out and I mean no one. How can they. Beaucamps is only going to get worse not better, but because the students go to a states school they have to suffer.
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I went to Les Beaucamps albeit a few years ago and it was run down then! The States did not invest when they had the money – and now it is too late. It is probably more cost effective to build a new school. The States promised to sort out Les Beaucamps and they must keep their word – something else will have to wait. The mental health services are also in need of serious upgrading so that cannot wait. The airport runway is apparently in need of urgent repair too so that cannot wait.
This island is run by a bunch of amateurs who are never held responsible for anything but the majority of the blame must go on previous States members who squittered away money or who failed to take advantage when they could. There are many examples of public buildings which were allowed to fall into disrepair.
We need a States that can come up with ideas and answers and not continuous moans and groans. What about private/public partnerships and/or using our ‘rainy day’ fund.
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i said it before and i will say it again…how can the island afford to keep repairing these old buildings? we need to build bigger schools and have less to worry about. st peter port school was built to a price and it showed…now is the time to build bigger and better. get rid of these old , expensive to run schools and lets join the 21st century for a change. stop moaning about the parents and start thinking about the future for a change. amherst school needs a complete overhaul…how much longer can we keep patching up these old buildings? we do not want our taxes spent on projects with no future….we need two or three super schools and thats all.
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Right-oh. So some of you do not feel that the school needs rebuilding? As a current student, I suggest that you go and take a look at the place.
We’re no longer allowed to open windows in case they fall out and kill someone, thus making the rooms far too hot in the summer.
The school hall is too small for the current lot of 500 kids who go there, it was built for around 350/400 people, not 500. It’s a tight fit to get everyone in there for the whole school assemblies.
The roof leaks in many places and God knows what else.
It’s a 50 year old building and you people would begrudge us having a new building. When precisely would you like it rebuilt? Within the next century one would hope.
As a year 11 student any new building would have no effect on me or my education but I would like to think that over the next few years the school was rebuilt paving the way for better educational standards and a more productive society.
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Stephen John – I am surprised you took offence to my earlier comment that merely stated a scientific fact. Are you an O.B. by any chance? I think we as islanders all know that this building is an eyesore on our beautfiul, (in the higher parishes at any state), island. The question we have to ask ourselves is, would we miss this school if it was to be replaced by a large housing estate to accommodate first time buyers? Change is never easy but sometimes you just have to be the one that drives the truck that delivers the wrecking ball to take dow nthe building.
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Anonymous
As a student it might be well worth you re reading the posts to see what people are saying, and not what youn think they are saying.
The criticism is of the various Education Committee’s over their failure to properly maintain schools’, including yours.
No one would begrudge you having a new school. There is a very slight problem – a shortage money, and an ever increasing demand for money that is available.
As to educational standards, you will be comforted to know that there are numerous examples of poor facilities and good educational experience. Take the Ladies College as an example.
Fortunately, staff and students can make for excellent learning in, often, second or third class accomodation.
Still, good on you for making your point.
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Leigh Haines: While i agree with your post, isnt this why st sampsons high was built?
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Mr Barnes
Perhaps you might like to explain the scientific fact behind your comment “If the Beaucamp kids parents could afford to live in a wealthier part of the island then their kids could go to a better school – problem solved”.
What secondary modern school or high school, do the upper parishes children attend? Are bthe results at the “Mare” that better than Les Beaucamps? Is the Mare that much better as a school than Beaucamps? I’m referring to a school from an educational point of view and not to the buildings.
So, does the wealthier part of the island have a significantly better secondary school in its catchment area?
And no, I am not an OB of the school.
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To the people who are against a new school being built, get yourselves down there and take a look!!
The Gym is not fit for purpose nor is the hall as a substitute(has a very hard concrete floor.)
The place is not Double glazed and is 50 years old for God’s sake.
There were problems when left and that’s 20 years ago now. Remember this was agreed by the previous States a long time ago now. Think of all the overspends that have happened in between and add them together, you could build half of it with that.
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Stephen John. A lack of understanding isn’t an excuse for ignorance – ‘L. Kleinsmann’. To be an OB or not to be an OB Stephen – I think the jury is out on that one.
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Malcolm
When you have something sensible to say we can resume the discussion.
I am far more interested in informed debate on an important issue, rather than in taking cheap and silly shots.
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I’m a former pupil who left Les Beaucamps in 1995 to complete A levels at the Grammar School, the disparity in the quality of the facilities of those two schools 14 years ago was evident for all too see. The disparity between the new St Sampsons High and Les Beaucamps must be even greater!
We cannot expect some children to be taught in dilapidated buildings when their peers are in a brand new state of the art school based on the lottery of location at the time the 11 plus is taken. I’m not for one minute suggesting that there is a variance in the level of education, merely the level of facilities.
Mr Barnes’ suggestion of parents relocating into the correct catchment area is laughable at best, I’m sure we can all sell our houses and re-mortgage in the current economic climate.
The fact of the matter is Les Beaucamps must either be rebuilt, perhaps using a combination of private and public funding or the pupils must be intergrated into other secondary schools.
There is a finite budget with which to fund capital expenditre, the States must make the tricky decisions necessary, I doubt that the States in it’s current form can decide what to have for breakfast!
Finally a message to Anonymous, I applaud you for your post and urge your peers to do the same, you are the future of Guernsey, don’t let this fact be forgotten or pushed a side by the States who wil undoubtedly adopt a head in the sand approach once again!
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GsyGal
yes i know…we just need another one or two built and we can all be happy for another 50 years time. our kids need the best we can get, not some old rubbish patched up over and over again. the teachers have a hard enough time as it is. lets get things moving..if the island cant afford it then i am sure we can get a private sector company involved…same goes for our rubbish and water treatment.
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Mmmm a lot to read. I currently work in a school that is over 100 years old in the uk. It is due to be rebuilt, albeit a lengthy process and meter pinching for space. If you want a bigger sports hall, you loose a set of changing rooms. We never have whole school assemblies, its one year group at a time, sometimes 2. Windows……there locked because kids throw stuff in and kids climb out! During exam time (mocks included) there are 2 indoor spaces, one the size of a lounge the other 3 mini badminton courts. I have to fit around 100-150 year 11 students (15-16 years olds) into this space. Oh we can go outside but the filed is either flooded or frozen during winter…….My point is, there’s always someone worst off. Just except it’s the states and The States is Guernsey for “ it will take a long long time”
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I agree with Jacki (first post at top).
I went to Beaucamp many years ago, the states had it painted every year and well maintained all the time when I was there. I know the metal framed windows that are there because we actually have some in our house and they are still in perfect order from the 60′s when our house was built.
If a window fell out because of a few rusty nails then you can easily fix it back in, you don’t have to be a Nasa scientist to work that out. It probably cost a lot more putting those chains accross the windows then to simply fix the problem window and even check the others around the school.
How many homeowners would say “I need one small window replacing. Theres nothing for it, I will just have to have my house bulldozed and rebuilt from new”
The states have probably purposely neglected the maintenance for several years so they have an excuse to waste more money on an unnecessary rebuild, like they did with the airport building.
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Jackie & Michael LL, your posts are ignorant at best.
The issue with the windows is just one of numerous and is being used to highlight the overall state of disrepair.
Michael LL, how can you justify this as an unnecessary rebuild?
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Leah haines: We must be on the same wavelength. Its also a very good idea having St S High & Le rondin on the same site, Share facilities. Reduce Costs. Everyones happy.
But the New Grammar School 6th Form Building leaked and almost flooded the first year it was in use! If new buildings are going to be built, build them properly! St S High playing field is underwater at the moment.
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As an x employee at Les Beaucamps, I feel that the school was in poor repair and a new school is needed urgently. The children at the school deserve to be taught in an environment fit for it’s purpose,(the gym is like a run down squat) the teachers also deserve to teach these children in a clean, tidy and modern environment with good quality resources. Unfortunately it is not the only school on the island that is in need of a rebuild, La Mare de Carteret is also very shabby. Come on Guernsey Government get it sorted and stop wasting money elsewhere! Our kids education is much more important!!!!!!!!!!!
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It is not just about the state of the building – broken windows etc could be fixed (at a cost!). It is about offering the same 21st century curriculum and opportunities to which other Guernsey pupils have access, such as modern language and music facilities and a proper library. Children have to be bussed to various venues for games, this is not only costly in monetary terms, but also perhaps more importantly in time lost in travelling. The teaching staff at Les Beaucamps do a brilliant job, but surely they should have the same resources as their colleagues at other island schools?
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ANGRY FORMER PUPIL
If there are numerous items in a state of disrepair it just proves my point that the states have not done much maintenance to the building. I last had a tour around Beaucamp 10 years ago and it was as well maintained then as it was in 1984 when I left school. So what has gone wrong since?
You would not demolish and rebuild an listed building because it has some faults, you fix them up as new again.
Also with a recession as we have at the moment (no matter how much the states deny it), the states can hardly justify spending yet more millions on an unnecessary rebuild. A old wartime motto was ‘Make do and mend’ something which the states know nothing about it seems.
I would also hazard a guess as to say that the number of pupils will decline as Looney Lyndons idea of making more people come here to live has failed.
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I have the answer.
Lets suggest to Lyndon’s mob that they put a few more pence on road fuel and save up for a new school.
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The comment regarding the comparison of ‘demolishing a listed building’ to and old out of date school has no relation to this discussion. Get real.
We can only hope that lessons are learnt from the new building of St Sampsons High where there are problems galore now it is being used. It opened with a great fanfare but has a leaking roof in the common area, Broken heating in the dacce studio, marked walls and carpets, loose light fittings, revolving doors that don’t work and a wind tunnel for reception!
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We needed some new windows at home a few years ago, but I don’t remember my husband considering knocking the place down? and then there was the too small bedroom – guess what? We extended the house.
Pupil: ‘Lessons learned’? Don’t make me laugh. The building industry has been fisting this island for many years. All they care about is their profit.
any of our buildings have been criminally neglected to suit a political end; markets, Beaucamps, the old grammar school, Castel Hospital etc. absolutely appalling waste of public money. Yours and mine taxes
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Well said again Jackie.
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No, not really well said at all Jackie. Your house does not have to house hundreds of stragers’ kids in an environment where responsible adults can teach and help develop those children into functional and respectful adults. Letting them grow up in squalor will only reinforce negative attitudes to authority if this constant attack on their welfare continues. If there is no scope to refurbish adequately so that the buildings are future proofed for decades then they need to be rebuilt. It’s very simple. Provision for education for this generation and many others must be a priority. Patching it up will make costs in the future greater.
The fact that Education wasted an opportunity to rationalise using coherent argument ia not the children’s fault.
The parents’ generation need to pay more tax to increase general revenue. Why do we resist? Short term gain and a blind desire for materialistic wealth. Our children will suffer because of mentalities like “This is Guernsey, we drive cars, that’s what we do.” Nonsense.
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