'We just hope this cloud of uncertainty will be blown away'

PTA spokesmen for St Andrew's Primary and St Sampson's Infants have made final pleas to save the schools.

Education confirmed in yesterday's Guernsey Press that its board would on Tuesday make a decision on the schools' future and announce the outcome the following day.

The schools have been earmarked as possible closure options by the department as it claimed pupil numbers had fallen to such an extent that it was no longer appropriate to keep them open, given Education's current budget restraints.

Head teachers and representatives of both PTAs made a final presentation to Education's board earlier this week in an effort to convince members to recommend the schools stay open. Alasdair McLaren (pictured), chairman of St Andrew's Primary School PTA, said all board members had been handed a pack which included lots of letters of support from parents and parishioners.

'We still feel very strongly that the school is very much the heart of St Andrew's parish, which we have always maintained,' he said.

Nick Batiste, chairman of St Sampson's Infants' PTA, said that even if the board decided to close the school, the fight would not end there.

'We are pleased we're finally getting to a point where we are going to know where we stand,' he said.