"Unacceptable behaviour" as students protest

Wednesday 04 March 2020

With St Sampson's High students protesting against the proposed transformation of secondary schooling for a second time, education bosses have pledged to take action.

A group of children left the school grounds yesterday morning, as the States debate on the Lisia School model entered its fourth day.

They were allegedly protesting against the proposed changes at their school site, and the merger of the four current States run mainstream secondary schools into two college campuses, operating as one school.

Eventually, after more than 30 hours of debate, straddling last weekend, the States decided to 'pause and review' the plans, by backing a requête aimed at 'determining the best model of secondary education'.

Pictured: Deputies Andrea Dudey-Owen and Carl Meerveld were among those behind a requête which successfully called for a 'pause and review' of the Lisia School plans. 

The final day of the debate coincided with drama at the Baugbiny site though, as up to 40 students were alleged to have defied their headteacher and left the school grounds. 

A similar number held a protest before the February half term break too, with a group of students walking to the Bridge calling "save our school" as they left. 

On that occasion, a brief statement was issued to the media by St Sampson’s High Headteacher, Annabel Bolt. She said students 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, speaking in February after a similar student protest. 

As students walked out of school for a second time to protest against the secondary school plans, education bosses took a harder line against them - warning their behaviour was "unacceptable" and that their absence was "unauthorised".

After a busy few days, Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, dealt with the student protest by saying his staff would be dealing with the matter "firmly":

"In our schools it is not acceptable for students to walk off site and be absent without authorisation.  Students are at school to learn.  Parents and schools share a responsibility to ensure that students attend school and remain there.  

"This is the second time this has happened at St Sampson's High School.  Parents must have confidence that schools will be dealing urgently, clearly and firmly with this sort of unacceptable behaviour."

Pictured: Deputy Matt Fallaize, ESC President, and Liz Coffey, the Executive Headteacher of Guernsey's secondary schools. 

Liz Coffey is the Executive Headteacher who oversees all of Guernsey's States run secondary schools - she echoed Deputy Fallaize's disappointment in the student protest. Mrs Coffey also confirmed some parents had given permission for their children to leave school grounds - even though the headteacher, Mrs Bolt, had not. 

"Information provided yesterday from Mrs Bolt, Headteacher of St Sampson’s High School indicated that a group of students gathered outside of the school gates in the morning before the start of the school day, stating that they intended to protest about the new school. 

"Mrs Bolt made it very clear to the students that she would not condone their actions and they should be in school by 08:30. The group dispersed, however, unfortunately some of the students did not follow Mrs Bolt’s instruction and left the site.  Another member of staff went to the Bridge where the students had walked, in an attempt to persuade them to return to school.

"The school sought to contact all parents of those out of school and 17 stated to school attendance staff that they had given their consent.  School staff are in the process of following up with all students and their parents/carers and the Head Teacher has made it clear, in writing, that their absence has been recorded as unauthorised and their actions yesterday were not acceptable."

Mrs Coffey said the protest was not a constructive way to deal with the issue and also confirmed the school is dealing with allegations of some improper behaviour by some of the students involved. 

"As school leaders we have a responsibility not only to educate students, but also to teach them how to engage with serious issues constructively. Simply walking out isn’t it.

"We are also concerned about reports on social media of alleged inappropriate behaviour by the students and this will be followed up by the school. Groups of students refusing to go to school is a serious matter and although some of the group suggested they had the consent of their parents, any absence from school can only be authorised by a Headteacher."

Pictured top: St Sampson's High School and (inset) students protesting in February.