A “MUCH-NEEDED” new town primary school on the site of the former Jersey Gas site would replace “ageing” buildings with “modern fit-for-purpose facilities”, the Education Minister has argued in response to a proposition from a ministerial colleague calling on the government to reconsider its plans.
Deputy Rob Ward stressed that it was “absolutely clear” that the level of need in schools was increasing and that the new site would offer a “purpose-built” place for children, including those “with the greatest need who are currently in La Passerelle primary school”.
The government plans to close St Luke’s and Springfield schools and replace them with a new two-form entry school at the site adjacent to the Millenium Town Park, with the Springfield School site freed up for a potential park.
Deputy Ward was responding to a proposition lodged by St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, an Assistant Infrastructure Minister, calling on the government to assess the need for a new town school, in light of Jersey’s changing demographics, including its falling birth rate.
Mr Crowcroft has questioned whether current primary schools can meet demand for new school places.
The Constable also wants an assessment of the “likely impact” of doubling the size of the Millenium Town Park, a proposal he has previously brought to the States Assembly.
A total of more than £12 million has been set aside the government’s Budget, which was approved last year, for the project, and Deputy Ward hopes to have planning permission in place before the 2026 general election.
In a statement provided to the JEP, Deputy Ward said: “The plan is to close St Luke’s and Springfield schools, both of which are in ageing buildings which lack space internally and externally to meet the current standards. It is simply not possible to spend money on these two schools and achieve the facilities and outcomes our children and staff deserve. A new two-form entry school at Gas Place does not increase the number of classes but replaces them with modern fit-for-purpose facilities.
“The Council of Ministers held a workshop in July 2024 where all of this was discussed, and it was agreed to proceed with this much-needed school development on the Gas Place site. The [Bridging] Island Plan specifies the site for educational use, it is needed for educational use, and it will free up the Springfield School site to be a new park.”
He added that he would issue a full comments paper in response to the proposal.
