Catholic school parents say meeting with Education 'box-ticking exercise'
PARENTS from Guernsey's two Roman Catholic primary schools were left confused about why the Education Department called a meeting last night to discuss their future, when no clear plans have been drawn up.
PARENTS from Guernsey's two Roman Catholic primary schools were left confused about why the Education Department called a meeting last night to discuss their future, when no clear plans have been drawn up.
But Education Minister Robert Sillars said he thought it was important to include the parents at the earliest stage before any changes were decided.
About 120 parents and teachers from Notre Dame du Rosaire and St Mary and St Michael schools attended the two-hour meeting at the Grammar School.
The audience cross-examined the Education board and civil servants over their ideas.
Notre Dame currently has a 1.5 form entry for its 245 pupils, while St Mary and St Michael has single form entry for its 155 children.
But the Education Department is now looking to encourage two- or three-form entry at all its primary schools and Deputy Sillars said it was important that the Catholic schools were not excluded from the process.
He did, however, reassure parents that changes would not be forced on them and that all the discussions were theoretical at this stage.
