Brothers' footsteps are followed as Herm's Elliot passes to Grammar

HERM schoolboy Elliot Knight has become the third child to pass the 11-plus from Herm school, and will follow his older brothers to Grammar.

Elliot was born in Guernsey and has had the whole of his education on Herm under current teacher Mary Carey.

The Knight family first moved to the island from the New Forest in 2000. Parents Richard and Jos moved here with children William and Charlie, who were infants at the time, and Elliot was born in 2002.

All three boys attended the Herm school four days a week, and Vauvert once a week.

It is traditional for Herm children to leave the school at age nine, although they can stay on till 11. In 2008, Will was the first pupil to have stayed on until Year 6 and graduate directly from Herm. He was followed by brother Charlie in 2010.

In the past, Herm students have gone on to attend Elizabeth College or Ladies' College, but the Knights wanted their children to go to a school with both boys and girls, and chose to send them to Grammar.

'We are glad that all three boys will have been educated at the Grammar School,' said Jos Knight. 'We are very proud of Elliot. He worked very hard and took everything in his stride. The weather was terrible with both exams and we were stuck in Guernsey for two nights each time as there were no boats.'

Like his brothers, Elliot will also board with a host family during the school week and come home at the weekends.

'It is hard for your children to just be across that small stretch of water - so near yet so far,' said Jos. 'We are totally blessed with the host family the children are with. It is a home from home for them, and they are a truly lovely, decent family who have made the boys very welcome.

We have to also thank Herm teacher Mary Carey for her continuing support and hard work. She is a fantastic teacher.

'Herm School has been a wonderful experience for the boys, and has given them great confidence.'

Elliot has been Head Boy at Herm school for the past three years, and will be greatly missed by his friends. He has starred in many school concerts, and his final performance in this year's summer performance will mark the end of an era for this current group of pupils.