Guernsey Press

Staggering start times ‘an insurance policy’

THE new school at Les Beaucamps could have staggered starting times in the mornings, if concerns about traffic congestion persist.

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Education Sport and Culture committee, President Deputy Matt Fallaize with committee members deputies Peter Roffey, Mark Dorey, Rhian Tooley and Richard Graham. (26847331)

That option was described as the fall-back position if Education, Sport & Culture cannot bring residents on board with the plans.

The detail came out at a meeting between Education and douzaine representatives from the western and southern parishes to discuss the proposed new de Saumarez School.

Residents’ forums will also be set up to involve the community more in the changeover.

Traffic was one of the main concerns highlighted by the douzaine representatives, reflecting residents’ fears about possible gridlock because of the size of the new school.

Education president Matt Fallaize said staggering starting times could help.

‘It’s a feasible thing to do in the event that we can’t address the concerns people have about pressure on roads and infrastructure, but I think actually we can do an awful lot to address those concerns, but we could stagger start times as an insurance policy, but we would rather avoid that.’

Douzeniers had the chance to raise concerns with the Education committee about the school transformation plans. Picture by Helen Bowditch (26843874)

There will be no parking for sixth-formers at the new de Sausmarez School, and the educationalists urged their audience to look at the wider picture of better educational outcomes, rather than a sixth-former’s right to park.

Many audience members highlighted the recent teachers’ survey by the National Education Union, which showed considerable dissatisfaction with the transformation.

Deputy Fallaize said that a perceived lack of space was the main issue, with teachers worried that the buildings would not be big enough to accommodate all the students.

Currently, three out of four of the state secondary schools are under-populated, and it is thought that teachers have become accustomed to having more generous space, which is regarded as unsustainable in the long-run.