New College principal had baptism of fire over funds
PEOPLE are the most important part of a school, not the buildings, so whether Guernsey has a three- or two-school model ‘almost doesn’t matter’, said the new principal of Elizabeth College.
Jenny Palmer took on the role at the start of this term and her first few months have seen the culmination of the States’ debate over the future funding of the island’s three independent colleges.
The States voted to approve up to £20.1m of funding for them from 2019 to 2026, but while this has secured their immediate future, Mrs Palmer said that there is still work to be done through the Three Colleges Group.
She said there is a meeting on 11 January between the group, Education, Sport & Culture and Policy & Resources about how the colleges will access the funding and the way in which it will be used.
‘But it’s hugely positive that the funding has been agreed,’ she said, adding that they wanted to put in place a business system, to look at the funds allocated and how they could be used.
Coming into the college as the funding issue reached its conclusion was ‘a bit of a baptism of fire’, she said.
‘But it was a great opportunity to meet with [Ladies’ College principal] Ashley Clancy and [Blanchelande principal] Rob O’Brien.’
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
