Herm pupils recognised for Victor Hugo studies

Last month, the society held a festival to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Hugo's novel Toilers of the Sea, which saw a huge range of events, seminars and lectures being given across the island focused on the author's exile to Guernsey from 1855 to 1870.

The society challenged schools across the Bailiwick to submit artwork, photography and poetry centred on Victor Hugo and the Toilers of the Sea and decided that the entries received from Herm Island School, currently with just six pupils, were the strongest.

Victor Hugo in Guernsey Society committee member David de Garis said it was easy to choose the winners.

'Their wholehearted approach meant we thought the most appropriate school was Herm,' he said.

The school based an entire term of work around Hugo and his novel.

Head teacher Mary Carey said teaching in Herm necessitates an approach like this.

'It's the only way to teach in Herm – we have woven together many subjects as we looked at the book,' she said.