Teachers kept in dark

SOME island teachers are uncertain about their future. They do not know if they will have a job in the new schools at Les Nicolles or elsewhere, says one union. Education has this week revealed its plans for pupils to move into the new £45m. facilities.

'There are some staff who are not sure what their job will be when St Peter Port School closes,' said NAS/UWT local secretary Caroline Bowker.

'The real concern is the length of time it has taken for decisions to be reached. Education has had a group of staff working on the closure of St Peter Port School and relocation of staff for the last four years.

'The Education Department has been unable to make the decisions about exactly where people are going and that has been unsettling, particularly for staff affected, which is not just staff at St Peter Port School.'

Some teachers have been appointed on short-term contracts in view of the changes. Miss Bowker has been involved in discussions with Education for many years.

'We have been concerned for a long time about looking for the best solution for closing St Peter Port School.'

Eventually, current Year 5 children at Amherst, Vale and Hautes Capelles will go to St Sampson's High after spending a year on the St Peter Port School site. Education views that as the best solution.

'I would express disappointment that it's only now the Year 5 pupils and parents are being given this information. Teachers were told there would be a Year 7 that would be working from the St Peter Port School site a year ago.

'Although they will be on a different site for Year 7, Years 8 to 11 will be in the new Les Nicolles school and, from the point of view of these Year 7s, I think it's probably better for them to be in an environment with all the facilities they need rather than be squashed into the other schools, which would be overflowing.'

She accepted Education had been trying to find the best solution.

'We still have some concerns about the effect on some of the children at St Peter Port School when it closes in 12 months.'

Some parents have contacted the Guernsey Press in the last 48 hours with concerns.

'It's not consultation, it's dictation,' said one father.

He had heard that some pupils from different catchment areas could be going to St Sampson's High and others to La Mare de Carteret.

Miss Bowker understands that could occur when they become Year 10 'in 2009'.

'I think it will be very unsettling for them if that happens.'

She also is aware that the new Les Nicolles buildings have been frequently modified to cut costs and meet cash restrictions on Education.

'Guernsey probably has some of the best teachers there are. A school is good because of its staff and pupils, not because of its buildings.'