Students criticise temporary Sixth Form Centre move

Overcrowded, unhygienic and not fit for purpose are some of the words used by sixth form students to describe the La Mare campus.

A Level and IB students started studying from the renovated high school in the Castel last week.

Read: Temporary Sixth Form Centre opens in Guernsey

£283,000 was spent on improving the old La Mare de Carteret High School for sixth formers until a new post-16 campus at Les Ozouets is completed.

When the doors opened Sixth Form Principal Kieran James said the facility was ready to deliver the best possible education.  He told Island FM:

"Every wall has been repainted, the study hall has been re-carpeted, we have new tables and chairs, new curtains, new screen projectors, and the library has been completely transformed into a lovely, calm, and cosy space where students can come to and snuggle up with a book or work."

But a social media post by 'Studentsz Unhappy' reports overcrowding, a lack of parking, unhygienic environments and complains about rule changes that remove freedoms such as the choice to study from home during free periods and restrictions on their mobile phone use.

"One of the worst things is the toilet situation. The cubicles can literally be seen from the corridor because there aren’t proper doors separating them from public view. That’s not just uncomfortable, it’s a serious privacy issue that should’ve been addressed from day one. On top of that, the toilets and changing rooms are still dirty. It’s unhygienic, and it's honestly disappointing that these basic standards aren’t being met. The taps don’t even work, we can’t even wash our hands."

"What makes it worse is that it feels like the school is trying to distract from all of this by putting up flashy new signs and colorful decorations, hoping we won’t notice the actual problems. But no amount of branding can hide the fact that this building simply isn’t suitable."

The post, on the 'Guernsey People Have Your Say' forum, drew more than a hundred comments, including from fellow sixth formers...

"I, along with many of my peers, feel demoralised going into school. this is not how sixth form students should feel."

parents...

"Thank you for your very well written post x my daughter feels the same way, I as a parent feel helpless to do anything . Everything is just wrong about this whole situation!! Shame on you (Education department) "

and others praising the young people for speaking out:

"Well done for speaking up. Hopefully the students will be listened too because us parents certainly haven’t been when we’ve been fighting this for years."

"What a well written and comprehensive post - I hope that this is seen by the right people and the necessary action is taken… "

An anonymous student also gave their feedback:

"I can’t hide my disappointment that we’ve ended up at the La Mare site. That said, I have noticed a genuine effort to make the best of the situation."

"I want to show respect to Principal Kieran James and the staff, who are working hard to make the best out of a difficult situation, the building has been much improved to what it was. I hope that they see this criticism and make the changes that we need."

 Island FM has approached ESC for comment.