Fears over 'wrong' school closure

The future of St Andrew's school will be debated by the States

Guernsey's Treasury Minister Charles Parkinson says the wrong primary school faces the prospect of closure.

The States was considering shutting La Mare De Carteret School but education bosses decided to retain it because it was felt it fulfilled a "social need".

The States is now to debate whether to close St Andrew's or St Sampson's primary schools in the autumn.

However, Mr Parkinson says St Andrew's Primary should remain open and that La Mare De Carteret Primary should close.

Speaking as Deputy for the South East, Mr Parkinson said he believed closing La Mare De Carteret Primary School would allow La Mare De Carteret Secondary School, which needs to be redeveloped, to move onto the site while a new building is constructed at the old site.

The Education department has recommended that St Andrew's Primary School stays open, while St Sampson's Primary School closes in the summer of 2010.

The proposals, which are part of cost-cutting measures partially linked to falling pupil numbers, are due to be debated by the States at the end of January.