Minister for Education and Development Paula Cox has responded to parents' concerns over the size of the proposed new alternative school for disruptive children.

Ms Cox said the new site would hold significantly more than 26 students, as claimed by the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) at CedarBridge Academy.

The PTSA said they had been told by senior staff that CedarBridge had about 80 students who needed to be removed due to poor behaviour, and said Government then had to consider the remainder of the schools.

However, she said figures she had received from CedarBridge indicated that 55 students should be taken out of the school and educated elsewhere.

The Minister said based on the responses from both CedarBridge and Berkeley Institute on how many students they wished to remove, it was clear that a new facility needed to be identified as soon as possible.

However, she did not elaborate on how many students there were Island-wide who needed to be placed in a special facility.

Ms Cox said: "Let me say that within the Ministry of Education and Development, the staff are aware of the urgency and significance that I attach to this project.

"I have noted that this project is so significant that if the Government is put in an injurious position it would leave me with few options. Therefore, I take this matter very seriously.

"Initially, the facility that the Ministry was seeking to renovate was for 26 students. However, we had been in discussion with our partner Ministries to find a larger facility."

She said her staff in Education and some from other Ministries had worked tirelessly and unceasingly to deliver a solution for the matter.

Ms Cox added: "Though it is premature for me to get into the details, I believe we have a workable solution. There are details to work out and to be finally signed off on.

"This must be a comprehensive solution that meets the needs of more than 50 students, their families and their respective schools. There is no 'one size fits all' solution.

Ms Cox said that she realised the Ministry had to report back to parents in conjunction with the senior school principals, and, although she could say little publicly at this time, she hoped the new school for disruptive students could be operative in the next school year.

She added: "I appreciate that parents may have concerns, but we have to do what is in the best interests of all the children.

"The main focus, while addressing the needs of the school, has been to also include a procedure whereby the needs of the disruptive students can be met whether in terms of certification - both academic and vocational."

And she said that she has to first report back to the principals and the parents before releasing details publicly.

She added: "We are doing all that is in our power to do."

Chairman of the CedarBridge PTSA Terry Flood welcomed the Minister's comments.

He said: "This is good news. I'm relieved the Minister is looking at a bigger site, and I'm sure the staff at CedarBridge will be pleased."