School closures - the heads state their case

THREE head teachers have told their employers why their schools should stay open. Heads from La Mare de Carteret and St Andrew's primaries and St Sampson's Infants made their presentations to the Education board yesterday morning.

Now they face an anxious wait before learning whether their school will be saved - or closed.

Deputy minister Wendy Morgan said she had been impressed by what the heads had said, but would not disclose the outcome of the meeting.

'We are going to issue a press release later this week,' she said, 'and I really cannot pre-empt it.'

Education members Dan Le Cheminant and Hunter Adam also remained tight-lipped.

It is expected that a public announcement will be made on Friday.

Parents have joined the fight against closure.

Nick Batiste is heading a group of St Sampson's parents to make sure their voice is heard by the authorities.

The infants' school currently has no parent-teacher association, but it soon will have, said Mr Batiste.

'The formation of a PTA is not something that happens overnight but we realise St Sampson's parents need a voice and that is why I have written to parents to suggest setting up a group to discuss the situation,' said Mr Batiste.

'The steering group will deal with the immediate concerns until the establishment of a PTA.'

The school, which feeds into Vale Junior, is the smallest of the three up for potential closure, with 57 pupils, three teachers and six other staff.

Mr Batiste said there was a strong feeling among parents to fight to keep the school open.

'I think any parent with children at a primary school should be concerned about the potential closure of these three schools. Any closure is going to impact on the class sizes of island primary schools and therefore impact on the quality of education for our children,' he said.

Mr Batiste, who has a five-year-old son at the school, urged the Education Department to listen to parents' views.

'These are the ground roots of our children's education and their welfare should be considered more important than saving costs,' he said.

'These children are the future of the island and we must give them every opportunity to succeed.'

Clare de la Mare's five-year-old daughter joined the school in September.

Mrs de la Mare said it would be very upsetting for the children if Education decided to close it.

'I think it is terrible,' she said.

'Every morning we walk up here to bring Caitlin to school and her brother is looking forward to starting in September.'

She said forming the steering group was a timely move.

'I think it's a really good idea because I don't think they should close down the school.

'Caitlin is doing really well here because there is a lovely community, there's absolutely no bullying and all the children get on.'

Heather Le Sauvage said she would be most disappointed if her granddaughter, Caitlin Bienvenu, was forced to leave the school she loves so much.

'The children just started in September and to uproot them would have a terrible effect,' said Mrs Le Sauvage.

A meeting of parents will take place later this week to discuss the potential closure of St Andrew's School.