Guernsey school swimming pools could close for autumn and winter

Swimming pools at Guernsey's state schools could close for the majority of the school year under a new review by the Education Department.

It said it was reviewing the swimming facilities at all the schools it runs in the island, to improve their operational efficiency.

The department maintains 16 swimming pools and two hydrotherapy pools.

Island Games eight-time gold medal winning swimmer, Tom Hollingsworth, said he was concerned about the plans.

He said children cannot become strong swimmers if they can only learn with the school in the summer term.

'Meet curriculum needs'

A spokeswoman for the Education Department said it was "currently working with schools to identify improvements in the operational efficiency of swimming pools.

"The Grammar School pool is just one of the pools whose period of operation is being considered.

"The department recognises the importance of swimming and will continue to ensure there is sufficient availability of pools to meet curriculum needs."

So far this year the Education Department has found about three times the £400,000 of savings it was predicted to make during the whole of 2013, as part of the Financial Transformation Programme.

Under the programme the States committed to identifying £31m of annual savings from its overall budget by the end of 2014.