WORK to complete the installation of new air-cooling equipment at Les Quennevais School is on track to be completed within the next year, according to the Education Minister.
During a Scrutiny hearing yesterday, Deputy Inna Gardiner said that 24 rooms at the school were now air-cooled, with a final phase of work, covering 19 more rooms, scheduled for 2023.
Students at the £40 million school – which opened in September 2020 – were sent home multiple times this summer amid stifling temperatures, while on other occasions pupils were told to wear PE kit instead of their uniform because of air-conditioning problems.
Deputy Gardiner told members of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel that funding had been allocated for the work in the Government Plan – a figure of £200,000 had been budgeted, she said.
Les Quennevais was not the only school where challenges had been experienced, Deputy Gardiner added.
‘We’re aware of difficulties across the school estate, and will be looking at all schools,’ she told the panel. As part of a review of the situation for each school, Deputy Gardiner said consideration would be given to providing more shaded areas, which could be used for outside educational activity in summer, as well as being suitable for playing outside during wet weather at all times of the year.
