They have right to make protests

MESSAGES of support for St Andrew's Primary and St Sampson's Infants' schools have come from reprieved head teacher Kevin Hinshaw. Parents and teachers were celebrating at La Mare de Carteret Primary School yesterday after finding out their school had been saved from closure.

But Mr Hinshaw said he sympathised and empathised with the two schools that could still face being shut.

He supported the St Andrew's parents' campaign to save their school.

'I think it's their right to do so and people's right if they wish to express their support,' he said.

'The impact of the decision being made, I think, is taking into consideration all sorts of factors really, but nevertheless there is always a need for objectivity and local support.

'I think it's good for parents, it makes them feel they have a voice.

'These are all important factors in a democracy and a small community in an island that people feel they can make their point and it can be heard. That's part of our Western culture,' he said.

St Andrew's campaign to save its school, headed by its parent-teacher association, was launched with a meeting on Thursday evening that attracted nearly every parent.

Mr Hinshaw said parents and teachers of St Andrew's Primary had been living with its uncertain future for some time, but the recent news had confirmed their worst fears.

'St Andrew's and Mary Sebire have been under consideration for a number of years and consequently have been living with that for some time,' said Mr Hinshaw.

'Although that may be the case, we are still unprepared for the impact of a decision in the end.

'As someone who has been through it, I can fully understand how parents are feeling because I was at the tail end when I worked at the Forest,' he said.

The experience for La Mare had been a positive one in realising the backing it had from the community.

'We have been overwhelmed by the support from parents and pupils and all people connected with the school past and present,' said Mr Hinshaw.

'What that support does is make people realise the excellent service the schools provide.

A validation report did that, but was no substitute for seeing first hand from the community what support there was for the school.

He could not comment on Education's claim that the number of pupils in primary schools was falling.

'We have some available spaces, but sometimes that space gets utilised for other things like a music room.

'So we use these rooms to enhance the school,' he said.

St Andrew's PTA chairman Alasdair McLaren said support from around the island had added strength to the campaign.

'An overwhelming groundswell of opinion has emerged over the past few days from parents, parishioners and politicians all over the island.

'This has added strength to our already very determined and dedicated endeavours to ensure that the St Andrew's community is heard loud and clear over the issue.

'We are determined to retain our school at the heart of the parish,' he said.

'We continue to have severe reservations as to the justifications being put forward by Education towards any possible school closure,' Mr McLaren added.