I am very concerned about the Education Department’s proposal to close St. Andrew’s School and felt compelled to write to raise a significant point which I’m not sure is coming across to the general public: the fact that these proposed changes will affect many more of the islands’ children than just those at St. Andrew’s.
Where do we think these 180 odd children are going to go…to the rest of the islands’ schools of course and we are told St. Martin’s, Castel and Forest in particular. If I was a parent of a child at one of these schools I’d be very concerned too…increased class sizes are in no-ones’ interest and rises in numbers at these three schools will be significant. I understand traffic is horrendous already around these schools at peak times, who wants another 50 or so students at the school increasing this problem?
The second important point I’d like to draw to other parents’ attention is the Education Board’s intention to move towards 2 and 3 form entry schools. If the intention is to move away from single form entry, after St. Andrew’s and St. Sampson’s infants, Forest could be next, distroying another of the island’s communities, there are implications too for the Catholic schools who Education have an eye on too. Once Education have had their way and got rid of all our one form entry schools, we’ll no longer have the choice of a smaller primary school for our children, unless, of course, if we are able to pay for the privilege – is this really what we want as an Island?
In my view, the Education Department are simply trying to make savings and all this talk of moving to two and three form entry schools is just a smoke-screen, rendering many of the arguments utterly ridiculous! If we are to look at these potential financial savings, you can bet the figures will have been fudged to imply larger saving are possible than may be the reality.
So, come on parents of Guernsey, please think of the impacts to the Island as a whole, have a good read of the Billet and get behind our fight to stop these ill-conceived plans getting through. Time is not on our side, so please act quickly!
S. Langford