Students protest against two-school plans

Thursday 13 February 2020

Up to 40 pupils from St Sampson's High School walked out today, apparently in protest over the 'two school' plans for secondary education which will see their school extended and rebranded within years.

The students are all believed to be from Year 8 at the High School, so would be aged 12 or 13.

St. Sampson's Yr8s demonstrate today against 2 schools. pic.twitter.com/hk2AbwffGM

— tothevale (@tothevale) February 13, 2020

It's not known at this time who organised the event, which some people say saw the students walk from Baubigny into town, via Bulwer Avenue, while others say the students were seen at the Bridge before returning to class.

A campaign group, set up primarily to support the requête calling for the two-school plans to be paused and reviewed has said it was not involved in the protest.

An anonymous post on its Facebook page said People Power Guernsey "had no involvement in this protest which we hear was organised by the pupils themselves due to their concerns".

In a brief statement issued to the media, St Sampson’s High Headteacher, Annabel Bolt, said students are encouraged to have their say, but they are not allowed to leave school grounds without permission.

"While pleased that these students feel so passionately about this issue, we would always encourage them to have their say. This response needs to take place out of school time as it is not acceptable for students to be absent from school,” - Annabel Bolt, St Sampson's High Headteacher. 

The plans to move from a selective system of education to an all-ability system are already two years into a planned five year transformation project.

St Sampson's High will be affected as the plans progress with the number of States funded secondary schools in the island due to be reduced from four as it is currently, to just two. 

The Grammar School and La Mare de Carteret High sites are due to close completely, while the current Les Beaucamps and St Sampson's sites are due to be expanded and rebranded as Victor Hugo and de Saumarez colleges, under the Lisia school model.

To find out more about the plans head to gov.gg/lisiaschool

Pictured top: File image of St Sampson's High.