St Sampson's pupil move 'bad for Vale children too'

VALE INFANTS SCHOOL will become overcrowded and the quality of education be threatened if pupils from St Sampson's Infants are transferred there, according to an Education board member.

Deputy David De Lisle visited the Vale site on Wednesday and came to the conclusion that the Education Department's plan was a mistake.

It follows an outcry from the St Sampson's PTA after it was told some children would be taught in prefabricated huts if they were moved to the Vale.

Education minister Carol Steere had told the St Sampson's group she had never received any complaints from parents about children being taught in huts.

'The Vale school has limited facilities and already uses portable buildings. I am not one for putting children into temporary quarters when there are good-quality quarters where they are,' said Deputy De Lisle. 'Also, they are going to be segregated. Keeping them outside the school in portable buildings is a backward step.'