Education, Sport & Culture President Matt Fallaize said the acquisition will improve educational, traffic and parking facilities at the site as part of the development of the new model of secondary education.
Pictured: Education was given the green light by the States last month to move ahead with its £157m. reforms for secondary and post-16 education.
At this time, several different uses are being considered for the internal space, including a fitness suite, arts facilities and co-located education, health and care services.
“The purchase of this additional land is an important step forward. We identified the need for it when we selected Les Beaucamps as a site for one of the new 11-18 colleges,” said Deputy Fallaize. “The additional space will improve the experience of students and staff at the new de Saumarez College. My Committee is very grateful to States’ Property Services and Delisles Methodist Church for working together over the past few months to negotiate a deal which was satisfactory to both parties and which will help us deliver first class facilities at the new de Saumarez College.”
The external land is likely to provide additional parking, while it is also hoped the purchase will ease traffic flow by opening up another drop off point to the west of the site without the need to access the existing school car park.
An ESC spokesman gave more details about some of the potential uses for the church and church hall.
“The additional internal space could house co-located education, health and care services which work closely with secondary school students and their families. The States have approved the concept of co-located facilities at the new 11-18 colleges and authorised funding to construct the necessary facilities.
“Bringing together education and health and care services at the new 11-18 colleges will make it far easier for students and their families to access key professional support and advice. Less time will be lost to education in attending appointments during school time and there will be opportunities for much closer multi-agency working.
Pictured: School leaders will help to decide how the additional space is used.
“Space could be provided for clinical rooms, potentially for use by school nurses and other health professionals, Children & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), social workers and educational psychologists.
“Alternatively or additionally, the extra internal space could provide a venue for the arts which would benefit students and the wider community. It could host exhibitions which could be open to the public and provide working space for local artists as well as students studying art at higher levels.
“A further option for consideration is the creation of a fitness suite for the new college, which would add to the internal space for sport and physical recreation, including for students studying physical education at higher levels.”
Executive Head Teacher Liz Coffey said these options will be analysed further by ESC and school leaders.
“This is another important step forward in further developing the first class facilities which will be available to our students at the de Saumarez College site and across our new school. The innovative and imaginative ideas have the potential for the venue to become a cultural and health promoting centre of excellence, supporting the well-being and learning for our students, staff and the wider community.”
Pictured top: Delisles Church.