Pro-selection duo split on best way

Ahead of the critical debate set for next month – when deputies will be asked whether to back a selective or non-selective system – president Paul Le Pelley and his only selection ally on the committee, David De Lisle, are divided about what tweaked 11-plus system they would like to see.

Deputy Le Pelley has suggested extra test papers in English and maths be added to the existing format, but those plans have not been ratified by the board.

Deputy De Lisle said he would prefer to have the 11-plus changed 'from the two paper verbal and non verbal reasoning tests to a common entrance assessment in English and maths'.

At the same time, committee vice-president Carl Meerveld has presented his bold vision for secondary education, which would see the last pupils selected at 11 in 2020, attend the Grammar School in September 2021 and sit GCSEs in the summer of 2026.

Ultimately, La Mare de Carteret Schools would be rebuilt and the Grammar School would be turned into the Guernsey Higher Learning Institute – in conjunction with the rebuild of the College of Further Education – offering GCSEs, A-levels, Btec, Baccalaureate and degree courses, for students aged 14 to 99.

His vision would see just over 50% of students in Years 10 and 11 study at the institute, either fully or for certain subjects, and where advanced and different courses, such as Chinese and advanced mathematics, could be available.

'It still is a centre of excellence. Instead of feeding children in at 11, based on a dubious selection process, you feed them in at 14 when there is very much more proven ability and aptitude and based on their own choices.'

Members of the Education have agreed they should be able to voice their own views ahead of the States debate.