Grammar playing fields could be used for schools if needed
PLAYING fields around the Grammar School would be available for schools development if the site was needed.
One of the stumbling blocks to using Les Varendes site as part of a solution for the comprehensive secondary model had been uncertainty over the surrounding playing fields.
It emerged in the States last week that both St Sampson’s and Les Beaucamps sites will have significantly less outdoor space than the UK standards under Education’s plans, again pushing the Grammar option back into the spotlight.
There has been significant public and professional support for delaying the two-school plans as concerns mount about the impact of having two 1,400 capacity colleges.
ESC has previously dismissed Les Varendes as a ‘less obvious candidate for further development primarily because of space constraints on the site, not least arising from the lack of land around the schools in States’ ownership’.
But no-one from Education has approached the body which owns the surrounding playing fields about doing a deal for building school facilities.
The land in question is owned by a trust, the beneficiary of which is The Intermediate & Grammar School Association.
‘There would be no resistance from the Association to the land being sold to ESC (in whole or in part) to allow a three-school solution, subject to suitable sale terms being able to be agreed with the Trustees,’ said David Piesing.
The Association is not aware of any planning restrictions on the land, but is taking advice on that as part of a valuation process.
‘The Association has not received any approach from ESC regarding the use of land presently comprising the playing fields to facilitate further development of the existing school, but as land has been previously ceded for that purpose, any such approach would be likely to receive favourable consideration from the Association.’
The sixth form centre was built on playing fields ceded by the Association to the States for it to be built on.
The previous Education committee put the cost of redeveloping the site under a three-school approach with the sixth form at Les Varendes at £32m.
In debate in September when seeking States approval for the £157m. capital needed for all its plans, ESC president Matt Fallaize touched briefly on Les Varendes option.
‘The Grammar School building is surrounded by land not in the ownership of the States.
Professional property advice is that the building requires around £20 million of refurbishment and students may need to move to a different site while the works are carried out. This mean that using Les Varendes would be more expensive and cause more disruption to a greater number of students than using the sites selected by the committee.’
Disagreement has raged about the use of Les Varendes.
A local architect firm that reviewed its suitability for the previous committee was much more positive in its assessment than the UK firm since relied on.
That company, Design Engine, was the architect firm responsible for designing Les Beaucamps which was completed in 2012.
It was brought in to assess four sites, its advice on Les Varendes as a site for use in the alternative model was generally negative, concluding that the site ‘presents a number of challenges and risks, in particular the limited opportunity for extension options…on States-owned land.’
Varendes land ownership:
The land was acquired in 1967 by the Old Intermedians Association - the former pupils association of the Intermediate Boys School, which later became the Boys Grammar School. Until that point, the Intermediate/ Boys Grammar School, which was located in Brock Road, did not have its own playing field so used different venues including KGV, Les Vauxbalets, Beau Sejour and Cambridge Park. The land is subject to peppercorn lease to Education, Sport & Culture, the principle terms of which are that it is for the use of the modern day Grammar School and former pupils of the school and former Boys and Girls Intermediate and Grammar Schools. The former OI’s and Old Intermedians Girls Association are now merged into one association, The Intermediate and Grammar Schools Association.
The field is owned by a trust, the beneficiary of which is the IGSA.
