£8m. hall blocked in schools funding row

PLANS to build a multi-purpose hall at a new College of Further Education have been rejected by the Advisory and Finance Committee. This is to free up money to complete phase one of the island's education development plan.

The CFE facility, which would cater for the performing arts, examinations, meetings and presentations for the college and the community, would be the 'focal point' of the new college to be built at St Peter Port Secondary School.

But A and F opposes this £8m. development and is reluctant to release the extra £12.75m. needed to move to the next phase of the £200m. island school building project, which includes the development of three new high schools.

If Education Council did the work, it would not receive extra funding for further works. The matter is due to be debated when the States sits later this month.

Education president Martin Ozanne, also a member of A and F, was disappointed over the lack of support, by the 'slimmest of majorities', on A and F.

'They are not saying, ?no, not ever?, but ?not at this particular time?, he said. 'We followed exactly the directions of the States in February 2003.

'We believe our prioritisation is correct. We are having to cover for areas where we are unable to provide proper facilities for an ever-growing number of students wanting to take different courses that are available to them elsewhere, such as in Jersey and the UK.'

He said courses such as media, music, the performing arts and sports development were no longer the 'softer side' of education, as A and F members might believe.

'Education has changed considerably from when the majority of States members were at school.'

Such courses were now a huge area of employment in the UK and on the Continent and contributed 5% of the GDP, he said.

'It's a multi-billion pound industry,' he added. 'It's not just about jumping on the stage but about public speaking, music, drama and dance. And what a wonderful facility for the rest of the community to have access to.'

College principal Trevor Wakefield said the room was 'a number-one priority' for the college.

The courses taught there would be used as a vehicle for developing skills which employers looked for in staff such as confidence, good communication skills, initiative, teamwork and problem solving.

He said that A and F had misunderstood what they were trying to achieve and added that they would talk to States members next week.

The current college covers three sites, at Brock Road, Coutanchez and the Grange, and lacks a room big enough to hold the full-time students. Up to 4,000 people are also involved in part-time vocational courses. Hiring out rooms for examinations, which went on nearly every week, cost up to £30,000 a year, said Mr Wakefield.

There was also a dramatic increase in demand from students who did not make the grade at GCSE level whom the college wanted to encourage back into learning.

'It's a great shame for all these people who want to access learning because we can't offer a broad range. We are letting people down,' said Mr Wakefield. 'We want to create a college which is inclusive, comprehensive and has something for everyone at all levels.'

A and F commissioned UK consultants in November last year to investigate options for the schools development project. Suggestions included building two bigger schools to cater for more than 1,000 pupils instead of three for up to 720.

'My feeling is that we had already debated this ad nauseum,' said Deputy Ozanne. 'We demonstrated, when we put our policy letter in 2002, how many schools and where and had overwhelming support from the States.'

He said that they had already commissioned an experienced educationalist, who proposed having two schools instead of three.

But Deputy Ozanne said that this was a non-starter. The council did not support it and A and F agreed.

Only the Les Nicolles site could take such a big school. Having smaller schools than the UK was an attraction in recruiting teachers and smaller ones were also easier to manage.