Saved schools celebrate

LOUD ties pupils wore yesterday in aid of charity shone more brightly when news came through that the States had saved St Sampson's Infants and St Andrew's Primary.

Parents joined in the celebrations at the weekly family assemblies.

'We can now plan for our future and, as always, the children's learning is at the heart of all we do. We will continue to provide quality learning and teaching at St Sampson's Infants School,' said delighted head teacher Anne Brouard, whose school was saved by a single vote.

'We are obviously ecstatic,' said Maria Tostevin, chairman of the St Andrew's PTA. 'It's the icing on the cake that both schools are remaining open.'

Christine Guilbert, her opposite number at St Sampson's, was equally pleased. 'It has been a tense few days,' she said. 'It still feels like a dream. Now we can go back to what the PTA should be doing.'

But Education minister Carol Steere, who voted for the closure of both, warned fellow deputies that they would have to put their money where their mouths were when it came to spending cuts.