Vision must be applied with direction

The demotion of Michael Gove – seemingly to the relief of many in teaching, including here – may well put the brakes on the agenda he has been driving and to which the island has been forced to respond, particularly with examinations and the curriculum in secondary education.

Yesterday's debate hosted by the GTA University Centre on who should have the power to create the school curriculum therefore came at a particularly apt time.

There is a clear message that education should not just be about exam results - that more needs to be done to listen to the needs of employers and prepare students to be a positive part of society.

Devising a curriculum should not be the sole preserve of politicians sitting in dusty offices.

This Education Department has done more than its recent predecessors to drive a reform agenda – but it is crucial that is not purely powered by political ideals and the department remains willing to listen to those from outside its world.

There is a danger in there being too much aspiration in its vision, but not enough direction – that clear sense of purpose spoken about by the new College of Further Education principal.

The department faces challenges to the pace of change, some of that resistance coming from within its own management walls to moves such as giving schools more control.

And if it feels under pressure over what are in essence inward-looking moves, just wait until it opens the hornets' nest in its vision for the future of the 11-plus, something it plans to do by the end of this year.

The public may watch passively as a federation of secondary schools is created and examination boards changed, but they will engage passionately with the most hotly contested topic in Guernsey's education system.

If that clear direction is not articulated, whichever way the department decides to go will too easily alienate islanders.