Criticism over school speculation

Education bosses said La Mare De Carteret fulfilled a social need

The head of a Guernsey primary school has criticised a government minister for saying it should be closed.

Treasury Minister Charles Parkinson had suggested La Mare De Carteret Primary School should close and St Andrew's School be left open.

But Kevin Hinshaw said the minister's comments were "irresponsible" and had caused concern and anguish for everyone connected to the school.

Mr Parkinson admitted his suggestion was "pie in the sky" and not an option.

The minister made his comments when he was speaking in his constituency role as deputy for the South East.

'More expensive'

He said closing La Mare De Carteret primary would allow its secondary school, which needs to be redeveloped, to move onto the site while a new building was constructed at the old site.

But Mr Hinshaw said the Education Department's report outlined a number of reasons why La Mare de Carteret Primary should not be closed.

"To speculate like this has caused unnecessary anguish to parents, pupil and staff," he told BBC News.

"Perhaps, on reflection, it might have been better to have kept this under wraps."

Mr Parkinson said there was no proposal to close the school.

"All I'm saying is if another school had to be closed, I think La Mare should be higher up the list than St Andrews because it's much more expensive to run," the minister said.

La Mare De Carteret Primary had been considered for closure, but education bosses said the school fulfilled a "social need".

The States will debate the future of St Andrew's and St Sampson's primaries at the end of the month.