School closure ‘like the end of an era’ say former pupils
FORMER pupils of Herm School have expressed their sadness at hearing of its imminent closure.
Maya George, 22, who attended the school between 2005 and 2010, said she felt privileged to have shared the experience with fellow pupils and their families.
‘It was certainly an unusual school to go as there were only 10 or 11 of us,’ she said.
‘There was only one class with one teacher, Mary Carey, who got the boat over from Guernsey every day.’
She said that a typical school day started at 9am and finished at 3pm. She remembered lessons being heavily based around English and drama.
‘We were taught a lot of Shakespeare and did nativities and summer concerts based on what we had been taught. We also went over to Vauvert school every Wednesday for lessons.’
Miss George recalled occasions where Mrs Carey could not travel to Herm due to bad weather.
‘If that happened then we would have to do as much as we could through wet weather learning packs that we had at home.’
She said it was a shame to hear the school was closing.
‘It was like a home for families and there was a real sense of community as all the children were brought up there. It will be a loss to the island.’
Miss George now lives in Hampshire and works as a journalist for the Southern Daily Echo.
Charlie Knight, 24, said he only had good memories from his time at the school.
‘Something that sticks out in my mind are the wonderful school trips we had getting to see many things, including Jersey Zoo, the Globe Theatre and even the Tower of London.’
He praised Mrs Carey’s teaching, and was thankful for the guidance she had offered him even after he had left the school.
‘She is a teacher who I cannot fault. She has helped to build me and many others into who we are today. I think it is a shame that other children won’t get to experience the unique one-on-one teaching that we had.’
He added that seeing the school close felt like the end of an era.
‘It’s such a unique yet successful school. It was different to a normal school, yet it felt like students benefited more from this. It made all the students strong and charismatic individuals.’
He now lives in the UK, working in grounds maintenance at a luxury retreat.
