Students going online to air their concerns with the new sixth form centre at La Mare de Carteret have forced Education into admitting that the site wasn’t in a fit condition for learning when it opened last week.

A series of letters were shared anonymously on Facebook, allegedly from current students, raising serious concerns with the cleanliness, lack of space, and lack of privacy in the toilets.

One post said students were being affected in a “really negative way” by the issues which stemmed from there being no running water in the bathrooms, to dirty changing rooms and awkward shared spaces with teachers.

A petition was also launched to try and force action on the complaints. 

Deputy Paul Montague, President of Education, Sport & Culture, had told the States Assembly on the eve of the school term that the centre was “ready to welcome students tomorrow”. 

But yesterday he accepted that there have been teething issues and said remedies have been ordered. 

Pictured: Letters purporting to be from current students were widely shared on social media.

“I want to emphasise that we are listening to students, parents, carers and staff, and are working to make changes quickly where they are needed,” Deputy Montague said.

“While no one thinks that La Mare de Carteret is the perfect site for the Sixth Form Centre in the long term, I know that everyone involved with this process has worked hard to try and make it the best it can be. 

“There have been many improvements to the site over the summer which should not be disregarded – I know the project plan included 250 separate items that have been executed over the summer.”

Deputy Montague said temporary privacy screens will be installed in the toilets so cubicles cannot be seen from the corridors.

He noted that main toilet doors to the rooms have been removed across all schools in recent years, due to issues with bad behaviour and students vaping.

Plumbers were also called in this week to fix water pressure issues which have seen toilets and taps not working. 

One of the student posts raised concern with sharing an eating space with teachers, but Deputy Montague said this was down to a scheduling issue where 150 students had a free period at the same time.

He said school leadership is resolving that issue, and that students have the option of eating in the cafeteria, a study hall, and two outdoor spaces.

Other concerns with students being “locked” into the site are standard practice for school sites nowadays, with gates installed to prevent members of the public walking in. 

“All of this is standard for a school now, and the site is all above board when it comes to fire safety issues.  We know this security is very different from how schools worked in the past – but then this is also the case for many businesses,” Deputy Montague said.

Year 13 students are also now expected to study from school at all times since there is more space for learning than at Les Varendes High School.

Mobile phones have also been banned during lesson time, which is fully supported by ESC, and Deputy Montague said access to personal laptops does not impede learning.

“Over the past few years, I have personally observed the increasing disruption to student concentration caused by mobile phones in classes,” he said.

But students have encountered IT issues since starting the term, which Deputy Montague said was down to firewall resets and permissions and was being looked at over the weekend.

Deputy Montague said parents have been invited to an event at the site on Thursday to inspect facilities and speak to staff. 

He also laid out the Committee’s commitment to ensure the La Mare Sixth Form Centre is as temporary as it can be.

“We will be working as quickly as possible to formulate a plan for the permanent home for the Sixth Form Centre, and we have already expressed to the Assembly our ambition to drive through a plan expediently.”