“Looking to the future, it is our intention for the provision in Herm to be known as Herm Class which is part of Vauvert School,” said Mr Paul.
“It is vital to me as headteacher that the children are part of Vauvert and don’t just ‘visit’ another school one day a week. This also integrates the provision and the wealth of opportunities possible for staff and pupils.”
It comes just weeks after Education, Sport and Culture were forced to renege on their pilot closure of the school after Deputy David de Lisle launched a successful Requete to re-open the school ‘as it was’.
The letter also indicates Education’s movement towards two full time staff members in Herm and that children will travel to Guernsey on Tuesdays instead of Fridays “to enable the staff to access up to date professional development and to work as part of the bigger team. Over time, we will also ensure greater access for the children to the sports and the curriculum enrichment programme”.
Pictured: Vauvert Primary Headteacher, Adrian Paul.
The question about whether or not Herm is a school was raised during this week’s meeting, when questions were asked of the ESC President, Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen.
“Herm is not a school,” she said. “It’s a classroom. It’s an extension of Vauvert Primary School.”
The recontextualising of Herm School came as a surprise to many, including Deputy Peter Roffey.
“I think that nearly all of us until quite recently regarded there has been a micro school… the Herm School. I notice that ESC has recently downgraded that…”
To try and clarify, Deputy Dudley-Owen said: “A school by definition requires a head teacher, it requires formal, distinct or discrete processes from other organisations. That is not the case with this particular education provision.”
It has since been pointed out that Herm School used to appear on a UK Government website listing schools in the British Isles, however it no longer does.
Mr Paul said the school will be open no later than 30 October and he’ll be giving an update on the exact date on 9 October.