Education has options after £1m. church deal
EDUCATION chiefs yesterday confirmed the £1m. purchase of Delisles Methodist Church and land as part of secondary education reforms - although the building could potentially yet be sold off.
Education, Sport & Culture said it had secured the extension of Les Beaucamps High School site as a result of the purchase, while adding it was possible that the church could be sold to offset other development costs on the site if a business case cannot be successfully developed for the building itself. However, the committee said it did not foresee any circumstances in which the church hall or surrounding land would be sold or not used productively by the new de Saumarez College.
The £1m. price tag comes under the £69m. approved by the States in September to form the Victor Hugo College at Baubigny and the de Saumarez College at Les Beaucamps.
It is envisaged that the church site will provide a significant number of extra parking spots, as well as giving a new drop-off point to ease car congestion because vehicles will not need to access the existing school car park.
The extra internal space, made up of the church and church hall, has a number of potential uses now being considered by ESC and school leaders.
One idea is to co-locate education with health and care services. Bringing these two together would make it easier for students and their families to access key professional support and advice.
It is envisaged that space could be provided for clinical rooms, potentially for use by school nurses and other health professionals, children and adolescent mental health services, social workers, and educational psychologists. Less time would be lost to education in attending appointments during school time, and there would be opportunities for greater cooperation between different agencies.
Another option being looked at is the creation of a fitness suite for the new college, which would add to the internal space for sport and physical recreation, including for pupils studying PE at higher levels.
Alternatively the extra room could become a venue for the arts, hosting exhibitions which would be open to the public, and provide working space for local artists, as well as students studying art at higher levels.
The President of ESC, Deputy Matt Fallaize said the purchase of the land was an important step forward.
'We identified the need for it when we selected Les Beaucamps as a site for one of the new 11-18 colleges.
'My committee is very grateful to States’ Property Services and Delisles Methodist Church for working together over the past few months to negotiate a deal which was satisfactory to both parties and which will help us deliver first class facilities at the new de Saumarez College.'
Liz Coffey, executive head teacher of secondary schools, said: 'This is another important step forward in further developing the first class facilities which will be available to our students at the de Saumarez College site and across our new school.
'The innovative and imaginative ideas have the potential for the venue to become a cultural and health promoting centre of excellence, supporting the well-being and learning for our students, staff and the wider community.'
