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WQ.306/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND EDUCATION
BY THE CONNÉTABLE OF ST. JOHN
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 21st JUNE 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 28th JUNE 2021
Question
Is it the Minister's assessment that it is appropriate for cars to be parked by teachers in an active school playground during the school day, and will he advise –
- how many schools allow cars to be parked in the active area of the playground;
- what action, if any, he is taking to ensure cars are no longer parked in school playgrounds; and
- when, if at all, it is expected that cars will no longer be parked in these playgrounds?
Answer
Is it the Minister's assessment that it is appropriate for cars to be parked by teachers in an active school playground during the school day, and will he advise –
- how many schools allow cars to be parked in the active area of the playground;
There are three schools who park in playgrounds at present;
- St Mary - As of the new build there is no parking on the playground. There is staff parking on the netball court, but this isn't in use until after school.
- St Luke's - Historically (20 years ago) half of the school playground was reallocated to parking.
- St John – There is very limited parking around St. John 's. The school open their gates to allow staff access to park in the playground and then the gates are locked between 8:45 am -3:15 pm. Staff cannot move their cars during this time, due to safety of pupils.
No other schools use their active playground as parking for staff cars, however there are 4 other primary schools that use their playground either before school, after school or both to aid parent drop off / pick up.
- what action, if any, he is taking to ensure cars are no longer parked in school playgrounds; and
- St John - A proposition by the parish to create a car zone in a memorial garden opposite the school, was narrowly rejected by the planning committee, so at present they are left with no other option at this stage.
- St Luke's – For a short period of time the school managed to get staff parking in the Georgetown Co-op however this was rescinded by a new manager, so they had no option but to revert back to previous arrangements.
- when, if at all, it is expected that cars will no longer be parked in these playgrounds?
At present the schools mentioned above have no available options to them so that they can remove cars from active playgrounds. However, all schools have robust traffic management systems, plans and risk assessments that are reviewed on a cyclical basis.