Education president warns Herm School could still close

Herm School was reopened after a short trial closure

The president of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has said Herm School could still close in the future.

The Education Committee said reopening Herm school had cost £87,000 more than if the pupils were educated in Guernsey.

Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen said she respected the decision but when a review of primary education happens "Herm will be captured by that and more importantly the quality of education that we are able to provide".

Herm's CEO Craig Senior said the closure of the school caused a "dark cloud" over the island.

'No school, no business'

"Herm island only survives because of the community which can service the Bailiwick," he said.

"We more than pay our way with our taxes to the States of Guernsey and all we ask for is a school teacher in return."

Deputy Dudley-Owen said: "We do need to be providing value for the taxpayers but it's more important to me to get the best educational outcomes for every child in the Bailiwick and we are just not able to provide the broadness of curriculum on offer.

"The States is going to be coming back with a primary review and Herm will be captured by that and it’s at that stage we will be able to ascertain the value for money and more importantly the quality of education that we are able to provide on Herm.

"Deputies in the future could decide their education is better served in Guernsey," she added.

During the trial closure of the school, the four Herm pupils travelled by boat to Guernsey's Vauvert Primary School.

Deputy David De Lisle led proposals to reopen the school and said the key to the debate was the "sustainability" of the island.

"Without the school there is no business, there is no economy, so essentially the island would have to close," he said.

Pupils in Herm still attend Guernsey's Vauvert Primary School one day a week.