‘Herm school closure decision a calamity’
THE closure of Herm’s school could be ‘the final dagger through the heart of the Herm community’, the island’s leaseholder has said.
In an open letter sent to deputies and published in today’s Guernsey Press, John Singer encouraged deputies to support a requete from Deputy David De Lisle calling for Education, Sport & Culture to reverse its decision to close the school on a one-year trial basis. The requete is set to be debated in the States this week.
Mr Singer warned that, without the school, no potential employees with young children would consider employment on Herm.
‘If Herm’s school does close, I believe the only responsible decision for a parent of a four-year-old to take will be to leave Herm. Home schooling has been mooted, but both parents often work on Herm and none would consider themselves competent teachers.
‘I regard this decision as a calamity. It will kill Herm’s ability to recruit young families to fill senior positions.’
He said that presently, four Herm families had a total of five young children aged two or below, and that none of these families had been consulted by ESC on the closure.
‘These families have chosen to live and work on Herm and for their child to be educated on Herm. Why should they be denied that right?
‘All have indicated they will resign and leave Herm before their child reaches school age, unless ESC’s decision is reversed.’
He added that he believed the present dip in pupil numbers at the school to be a temporary situation, with there presently being no children on Herm between the ages of four and eight.
‘It is virtually a foregone conclusion that the trial will, in a year’s time, be deemed to have proven the case for closure. Without including younger children, no trial can be realistic.’
Mr Singer's letter in full, page 13
