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DESC insists co-location concerns have been addressed

Wed, 21 Mar 2018

Education bosses insist concerns raised by those objecting to the co-location of two Douglas primary schools have been addressed.

The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed two formal objections have been received, but that the issues raised won't be a problem.

Concerns include separating those with different religious beliefs, the limitations of the Scoill Vallajeelt building and an increase in the amount of traffic in the Saddlestone area.

However, the DESC insists the site is designed to accommodate up to 350 children and that traffic was taken into account when the building was extended.

The Department wants to move St Thomas's School to the same site as Scoill Vallajeelt as the Church of England School's building no longer meets requirements and can't be extended.

The two schools would continue to operate separately and have their own classrooms, but pupils would come together at lunchtimes and break, with the dining hall and outdoor areas being shared.

If the co-location is approved by Tynwald, the two schools will share the building from the start of the 2018-19 academic year.

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