St John Primary School closed ‘indefinitely’

The Ministry of Education has announced the intention to close St John Primary School ‘indefinitely’ and arrangements have already been put in place for the allocation of students.

In a release yesterday, the Ministry said the closure was not as a result of the findings from environmental tests, but “the collective costs incurred over the years without netting the desired results”.

A final decision is yet to be made on the future of the school which has made headlines as one of several affected by environmental problems. Most of the students will be transferred to Mount Tabor Primary School and arrangements are being put in place for the other logistics.

The full release follows below:

Mount Tabor Primary School in St John will be the new location for most of the students being transferred from St John’s Primary School.

During a virtual meeting held on the evening of December 12, 2023, parents were informed of the reallocation, the transportation arrangements put into place to accommodate, and the opportunity to seek a transfer to a more convenient location where there is availability.

In another meeting held earlier that evening, teachers and staff were also informed about their own reallocations, some at Mount Tabor and some at other locations.

Arrangements have also been made to have the furniture relocated from St John’s to Mount Tabor to accommodate the intake of students, as the Ministry also works with parents to organise the book lists where needed. Parents were also informed that students will have the option to remain in their current uniform, until they can transition into the uniform of their new school.

While other details continue to be fleshed out, the Ministry is working with Mount Tabor to have the students and parents attend an orientation prior to the start of the new school term to familiarise both students and parents with the classes and new teachers where it applies.

The decision to close the school indefinitely was not as a result of environmental tests, but rather the collective costs incurred over the years without netting the desired results. There has been no final decision on the future of the St John’s Primary School, but all options are being actively considered at this time. (PR/SAT)