Herm School to reopen by the end of October

Education, Sport & Culture president Andrea Dudley-Owen emailed deputies on the eve of yesterday’s States meeting telling them of the committee’s target date.

‘The date for Herm classroom to reopen will be confirmed

by the head teacher of Vauvert School and communicated

to parents on 9 October,’ she said.

‘The classroom will re-open no later than 30 October, immediately after the half-term break, and before this date if at all possible.’

But this was not soon enough for Deputy David De Lisle, who at the last States meeting led a successful requete directing ESC to re-open the school.

He said yesterday that he would demand the committee’s resignation if it failed to get the school open again in the next few days.

His comment followed Deputy Dudley-Owen’s latest update to the States.

Deputy Dudley-Owen, who was responding to questions following her latest update statement to the States, said that more work was needed before the school could re-open and the safety of its children could be assured.

Children from Herm have been at Vauvert Primary since the start of the school year. Deputy De Lisle claimed there has been issues with sea sickness and cancellations due to weather.

He was aware that IT was up and running again at Herm School and asked why it could not be opened immediately.

‘A myriad of things need to be in place,’ said Deputy Dudley-Owen.

She criticised some deputies for spending too much time worrying about children travelling by sea and claimed the States chamber was not the place for discussions about the operation of schools.

This failed to deter several members from asking for more information about the committee’s work in Herm.

Deputy Yvonne Burford asked why numerous changes had been imposed on Herm School without proper consultation with parents.

Deputy Dudley-Owen said it was up to her committee’s officials and not committee members to determine safeguarding arrangements in schools.

Herm previously had one teacher but the committee was recruiting a learning support assistant to support the teacher.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby asked if that was due to a new policy across all schools.

In reply, Deputy Dudley-Owen said that Herm faced unique circumstances, including previously having only one adult in a remote facility whereas other schools had numerous adults going in and out or looking into classrooms through glass in doors.

‘There are various safeguarding activities that go on in our classrooms and this is just one of them,’ she said.