New PTA's first job is saving the school

A NEWLY-formed PTA is gearing up to save St Sampson's Infants' School. The association was created on Wednesday night in response to the news that the school could face closure.

Chairman Nick Batiste hopes it can launch a campaign that can convince Education not to shut the school.

'There's a lot of disappointment among parents and staff and a lot of anger, to be honest,' he said.

'We can't understand why they are choosing cost savings over our children's welfare.

'We have never had a parent-teacher association - we never needed one until now,' said Mr Batiste, who has one child at the school and another due to start nursery there next year.

The meeting was the first opportunity for all parents to discuss the threat and Mr Batiste said turnout was strong.

The first course of action for the PTA will be to raise funds to finance the campaign.

A slogan and logo will be designed and Mr Batiste hopes a website can be launched.

The school has 57 pupils and parents believe its intimacy is one of its biggest strengths.

They also say that children would no longer be able to walk to school if they were sent to Hautes Capelles or Vale School - traffic and parking can be a problem at both.

St Sampson's deputy Dan Le Cheminant was invited to the meeting and was impressed by the determination of parents.

'At the moment they are in limbo, because no decision will be made until probably later next year. I think it is very important that they make sure new members in the States are aware of the concerns they have,' he said.

He has offered to help the PTA in any way he can. It will next meet on 18 February.