Future of schools to be debated

Education bosses in Guernsey are to begin discussing the future of two primary schools this week.

The Education Department is due to decide on whether St Andrew's School or St Sampson's Primary will close in cost-cutting measures in the autumn.

Falling pupils numbers have been partly blamed for the proposals.

Deputy Education Minister Alistair Langlois said the department had a responsibility to the whole island to make savings if they were needed.

He said: "In my view - and this is something I will be saying in that debate - it can't be debated in isolation.

"It's all to do with the overall budget of the Education Department and our corporate responsibility from an island point of view to say, 'Right, where can savings be made?' if they need to be made."

Although the debate begins this week, a firm decision is not expected until later in the year.