New school gates divide parents as term starts

New black metal fencing and gates have been installed around Amherst Primary School in St Peter Port, prompting a split response from parents gathered at the school gates.

Some called it a welcome extra layer of security while others said it had ruined the character of a school building and the local area.

Liz, a parent of a child said the fence, which was installed over the summer holiday, "looks horrible, it's more like a prison than a school" and said she preferred pointing the previous ironwork fencing that remains elsewhere on the site.

She added: "This school is over 100 years old and they've messed it up having this up here."

Other parents took a different view including Jennifer, who said she was "more than happy" with the fence.

She said: "I think it adds an extra layer of security for the children.

"With the old fence, anyone could hop over it - this gives us all an extra layer of protection."

Jennifer said she wasn't worried about the way it looked: "Who cares about ugly. Our children are more important than that."

Laura agreed and said she "completely appreciates that it's for safety purposes, children need to be safe in school".

She added: "Having been a teacher on the mainland, I'm used to this level of security - this is just normal."

Sophie Roughsedge, head of education operations at the States of Guernsey said new gates and fencing at some schools are part of a five-year programme to improve site security.

The upgrades focus on schools where children could leave unsupervised or where unauthorised members of the public could enter.

Roughsedge said: "Addressing these points is about fulfilling our safeguarding duties, and while we know that the Guernsey community in general does not pose a threat to children, it is important that we take all practicable steps to ensure every child's safety."

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