La Mare struggles for space

CONCERNS have been raised about the rising number of pupils at La Mare de Carteret Secondary School. Parish representative on the school management committee Jane Le Conte told a St Peter's public meeting that an increase in students from September had highlighted the small room sizes, a lack of specialist space, catering and dining space and the limited outdoor area at La Mare.

'The last will be exacerbated when temporary classrooms are installed on the site in preparation for a further increased intake in September,' she said.

'In fact, it is proving difficult to identify a suitable location for them.'

It was estimated that the school would have to accommodate an extra 150 pupils by September 2009, requiring an extra six general-purpose classrooms. From last September, pupils leaving Vauvert Primary who would have gone to St Peter Port Secondary are being placed at La Mare.

From September 2008, St Peter Port students embarking on their GCSEs will also be transferred to La Mare.

An Education spokesman said the department was still in the process of evaluating accommodation requirements for La Mare de Carteret Secondary in the interim before Les Beaucamps Secondary is redeveloped, which still depended on States funding being made available.

Education's member on the La Mare management committee, Deputy Hunter Adam, said the matter was of obvious concern.

'There's a lot of logistics involved and if you cut the number of secondary schools from four to three you are bound to have them. It's not a simple job,' he said.

Curriculum requirements had changed significantly in the past five or six years, he said. The GCSE programme had become more diverse, which meant more space was needed to teach it.

'You have to offer suitable subjects for education and training so that students can get the very best out of their schooling,' said Deputy Adam.

'Obviously it is a concern, but we have to do the best we can and it will be looked at, assessed and accommodation provided as necessary.'

Fellow Castel deputy and a member of the former Education Council, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said there would be pressure on La Mare de Carteret Secondary School.

'But it will be only temporary, providing the next States agrees to the redevelopment of Les Beaucamps,' he said.

The redevelopment of La Mare de Carteret Secondary School forms part of the Education development plan. The new high school is scheduled to be built when the redevelopment of Les Beaucamps has taken place, depending on the availability of States funding.

The spokesman said that after the detailed options had been finally agreed, any necessary works or adjustments to the existing buildings would be made.

La Mare de Carteret was on a large site that provided scope for the installation of additional temporary accommodation should it be necessary.