15 September 2015
The public are being asked for their views about three potential sites for a new Les Quennevais Secondary School in a consultation that starts on Tuesday 15 September.
The Education, Sport and Culture Department and Jersey Property Holdings have looked at a number of sites in the west of the Island and created a shortlist of three:
- option 1: south-east corner of Les Quennevais sports field
- option 2: fields south of Rue Carrée
- option 3: fields south of Rue Carrée plus the football pitch of St Brelade’s Social Club
A new site for Les Quennvais School consultation
Public meetings
Details about the sites, including maps, are available on this website or in an information booklet available from the school, Parish Hall or libraries.
There will be two public meetings on:
- Thursday 8 October 2015 at the school
- Tuesday 3 November 2015 at St Brelade’s Parish Hall.
Both meetings start at 8pm with displays about the options available from 7pm.
Islanders can respond to the consultation by completing the online survey or the leaflet that is being delivered to all Island households this month.
Comments can also be emailed or submitted in writing to the Education, Sport and Culture Department.
Education Sport and Culture Minister Deputy Rod Bryans said "A new secondary school for students in the west of Jersey is long overdue. The current buildings are outdated, too small for the number of students and on a site that does not meet the minimum size requirements for a modern school. Work by Property Holdings has shown that refurbishment on the current site is no longer a cost-effective or practical solution."
Email school sites consultation
Funding allocated for the project
£40 million capital funding has been highlighted for the school project in the next Medium Term Financial Plan.
Deputy Bryans added "This school will be an important investment in education but also a significant community facility for the whole Island. A new school happens only once in most people’s lifetime so I hope as many people as possible will take part in the consultation and give us their views.
"The responses we receive will be taken into account in the preparation of a report following the consultation. This will be used to make a decision about which site is most appropriate. After that, a planning application will be drawn up and submitted, hopefully in early 2016."
Director of Education Justin Donovan said "The students in the west of Jersey do not have the same facilities as their friends in the rest of the Island and, notwithstanding the excellent head teacher and dedicated staff, this does have an impact on their experience and opportunities during their secondary education."
Background information
External cladding was added to Les Quennevais School in 1995 to 1996 to improve heat retention and make the building wind and watertight.
In 2002, a feasibility study was carried out on how to improve the buildings and a request was made for £7.5 million funding for a major refurbishment. The funding was delayed and the fabric of the building continued to age in the meantime.
In 2012, the feasibility study was revisited and the then minister, Deputy Patrick Ryan, concluded that refurbishment was no longer a viable option and that the school should be rebuilt on a new site.
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