It’s rumoured that Education is about to consult for the second time on what computer equipment they would prefer and has added another £2 million to the budget to pay for it!

The same cash-strapped department desperate to save money has earmarked nearly £2 million a year to pay for 15 hours of free pre-school education.

The UK-based consultancy firm Capita has already received £1.8 million. It appears this money has been paid out by Treasury & Resources but Capita will also get a one-off payment of 6.5% of any recurring savings made by school closures. If Education is right in its calculations that’s another £468k.

Education has estimated that closing St. Andrew’s primary will result in savings of between £600k and £700k per year. However only 10% of this is the cost of running the school, the rest goes on paying staff. So if it is true that 90% of primary school staff are local then where are the existing teachers at St. Andrew’s going to teach? Are the purported vacancies that Education claim exist actually in the primary sector or elsewhere?

It is commendable to want to offer free pre-school provision and many St. Andrew’s parents would applaud the States for introducing it but only if the island could afford it and only if it wasn’t at the expense of successful primary schools. This must be an area where priorities have to be chosen. Realistically how many parents will be able to get a part time job of 15 hours per week or simply extend their working hours? If it was that easy there’d be no unemployment and a vibrant economy.

However, if all this money is being spent now what is going to happen to these new and existing projects when Education’s budget is supposed to be cut by another £1.1 million in 2018?

How can Guernsey afford to be dishing out the odd million pound here and there albeit on laudable projects when it doesn’t have the money to keep excellent and vital schools open now?

More than 100 parents, grandparents and carers packed into the school hall to share ideas and show their support for the school. Those that couldn’t attend were represented by friends to ensure their backing was also noted. Every seat was taken, with benches and gym equipment roped in leaving standing room only at a meeting that would normally be discussing discos and fayres.

Top of the agenda was challenging Education’s proposals and there was clear agreement on where its statements can be challenged and alternative evidence presented.

PTA Chair Charles Swainston says he was nearly overwhelmed by the strength of feeling and support shown at the meeting. “A couple of times in my presentation I was nearly brought to tears by the clear message that everyone believes that St. Andrew’s is both an academically excellent school but more importantly that it develops socially inclusive and well rounded citizens.”

New committee member, Sarah Langford wished that the island’s deputies could have seen for themselves the eagerness of so many families, “this wasn’t what I expected from my first PTA event but I’m thrilled to be part of such a passionate organisation who are working tirelessly to ensure this wonderful school will continue to benefit local children for years to come. I didn’t realise how lucky my children were to be coming to St. Andrew’s but now that they are here, I’m seeing the many benefits of a small school for myself. The emotion at tonight’s meeting was overwhelming, I wish the deputies who will be voting on this could have been there to experience it.”

The PTA are grateful to the people of Guernsey already expressing their support and asking where they sign to back the campaign.

The ink is barely dry on the hastily printed petitions popping up across the island and already filling up with signatures.

Mention St. Andrew’s school or the planned changes to catchment areas and primary education as a whole in Guernsey and the PTA have found people really do care and want to show it.

There is very little time to stop sweeping, irrevocable changes that will affect all children across the island, but as Friday night proves, St. Andrew’s is full of ready, willing and able volunteers.

Islanders can sign online here.

Members of the St. Andrew’s primary PTA are shocked by Education’s failure to supply actual figures of the physical spaces available in the schools that would receive their children if the school closes. Parents and carers are stunned that Education hasn’t been able to get such vital figures correct when so much is riding on it for their children.

Mother of 3 Cathy Gordon said, “I’ve heard one plan is to re-instate a room in St. Martin’s that has no windows or ventilation to create an extra class full of pupils. How can this be healthy or conducive to learning? Who out of our elected representatives would accept this for their child?”

Another parent Kelly King said, “What about the toilets and cloakrooms at St. Martin’s? I’ve heard the facilities as they are couldn’t cope with all the extra children and even at current numbers the school can’t have a whole school assembly for health and safety reasons. How much will it cost to sort all that out?”

Donna Collenette has painstakingly researched and pushed for the true figures from Education. Despite assurances that she would be given them before the half term break they have still not been released. “How can Education put forward a life-altering proposal like this without getting its facts and figures right?” asks Mrs Collenette, “I’m putting my faith in our People’s Deputies to look in detail at what closing the school would really mean and cost. If Education can’t even count up the number of spaces correctly what faith can we have in the other figures?”

Sarah Barrett Secretary of the St. Andrew’s PTA Committee elaborates further. “In just a few days we will provide all States Deputies with our analysis of Education’s research and figures. I can tell you now that the sums don’t add up. Closing schools now will just end up costing more in the long term. What point is there in reaching a short term FTP target if the overall result equals a greater cost in just a few years time?”

The PTA maintains that closing the school will lead to detrimental outcomes for students and the repercussions of moving children will still be felt three years after the move. PTA Chair Charles Swainston said: “There are also strong social arguments which need airing. More than one third of St Andrew’s pupils live in social priority housing and 67 of the total 168 children currently walk to school.”

The PTA says that Education’s calculation of surplus spaces is flawed; population estimates indicate a surge in numbers in 2019 and even at current capacity, without closing the school, there will not be enough space. They argue that Guernsey schools should not be modelled on the UK’s failing system when research shows that collaboration between schools is better than multi-forms and bigger class sizes do not raise educational outcomes. The curriculum at St Andrew’s is as strong as that in many other island schools and the buildings are robust and fit for purpose.

The PTA says St Andrew’s community has not been considered but community value has been cited as a reason for re-building La Mare de Carteret.

Mr Swainston said: “A committed team of busy lay people have spent hundreds of hours of their own time analysing Education’s proposals and have drawn on the most recent research available to compile this report. Many of Education’s reference points are now considered outdated by leading education academics.”

“There was no consultation with the school community and Education’s report lacks authority and credence,” he said.

The response will be forwarded to all deputies ahead of the States debate at the end of the month. All deputies have also been invited to a presentation at which the PTA will put their case.

Donna’s eldest son Kyle (now 18) started at school in September 1999. He fell victim to changes made to catchment areas at the time and was expecting to go to Castel school with his friends. But, the teaching and support staff at St. Andrew’s went out of their way to ensure he settled in. The next year is brother Nathan joined him at the school. Nathan had turned 4 only days before starting school and again, it was the dedication and understanding of the staff that helped him adjust and learn at his own pace.

The next event that the school helped them through was devastating. In March 2002 Nathan and Kyle’s little brother died tragically aged just twelve weeks. The boys were in years 1 and 2 and the Doctor at the time thought that Brandon had picked up a virus from Kyle that had seen him sent home from school.

In Donna’s own words the staff at the school were amazing. She can fill you in on the details but here is some of what she told me, “They offered us support, put us in touch with people who could help like the Sunflower trust and supported the boys hugely and relayed anything they felt was important that the boys had said during the school day so we could gauge how they were coping. We were overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness which considering we’d only been at the school a relatively short time was very unexpected. They arranged cards and flowers to be sent from the staff and parents and when we held his funeral (at St A church) they ensured that the school was represented. Obviously we had support from family and friends in a huge way too but the school really made a huge difference and helped make sure our boys were ok at all times.”

Donna also told me how the school helped support her and the children when she had to spend 3 weeks away looking after her father.

But on top of the fantastic pastoral care the school offers she notes that the teachers have always helped get the max out of the children.

For example one of Donna’s daughters finds maths difficult so they have been, and still are, helping to expand her learning there.

For Donna losing the connection with the school would be a devastating blow.

She said, “If the school closed then it would be like a death. St. Andrew’s has been a huge part of our daily life for so long we would really grieve. It’s all my children have ever known since they were tiny and to be honest it terrifies me to think of having to start somewhere new. I’ve made some amazing friends through school, many will be lifelong friends and while I know we’d stay in touch etc it would be like severing a limb.”

Representatives from 5 schools attended with lively discussions covering all sides of the argument. There was general agreement that the impact of the proposals would be felt across the island. It was also agreed that there were many other consequences of these proposals that haven’t been adequately explored. For example traffic, class size increases, and the effect on the quality of education, and the social impact.

Actions were agreed between some school representatives including, among others, support for the blue ribbon campaign and increased dialogue with elected officials. In some quarters there was support for parts of Education’s proposals, but all outcomes received lively debate.

Whatever the end result, all agreed this joining up of PTAs should definitely be repeated for the greater good of all school communities.

Just a few days ago parishioners, pupils and parents were left feeling blue. Now ribbon angels have been out and about decorating signs, lampposts and the occasional tree with blue ribbon to show their support for the school, their island and their community. PTA Secretary Sarah Barrett said, “We may be sporting our school colour blue but we’re fighting these proposals for the benefit of all island children. The changes to catchment areas and increases in class sizes will be felt island-wide. We’re hoping the blue ribbon will catch on and spread across the island to show opposition to Education’s plans. The campaign is proving so popular that supporters might find it difficult to get hold of the florists royal blue ribbon being used. The PTA understands that every island florist has now sold out and what’s left is being kept for bouquets. Anyone wanting blue ribbon should contact St. Andrew’s PTA.