Wide feedback sought on plan for education

The new structure of secondary and post-16 education was approved by the States last month and will be taken forward by a new committee headed by Deputy Matt Fallaize, who led the two-school proposals.

Alongside these 11-18 schools, both with sixth forms attached, the committee plans to retain the College of Further Education as a single institution for technical and professional studies and devolve governance to school leaders.

‘The committee has received a clear direction from the States,’ said Deputy Fallaize.

‘In the future secondary education will be provided in 11-18 schools and the College of Further Education will be redeveloped and expanded, not divided.

‘However, a great deal of planning lies ahead to shape the organisation and operation of the schools and the college.

‘The committee wants to do this in conjunction with school leaders who have substantial experience as educationalists.’

In early March, Deputy Fallaize and the committee’s new chief secretary, Gus Paterson, will meet all primary and secondary school head teachers.

In the weeks that follow they have vowed to meet as many secondary school teachers as possible, write to parents and engage directly with students.

‘The lead-up to the debate on the future of secondary and post-16 education was understandably emotive,’ said Deputy Fallaize.

‘Very few subjects matter more than education does to the people of Guernsey.

‘During this period there was significant scope for misinformation or misunderstanding to be repeated enough times for it to become widely accepted, especially for anyone who hadn’t fully read both the previous committee’s proposals and the new committee’s.

‘As just one example, I regularly hear from parents who have been misled into believing that two 11-18 schools must result in larger class sizes than there would have been in three 11-16 schools. This is absolutely not the case.

‘The 11-18 schools which we proposed and which were agreed by the States are based on exactly the same class sizes as the 11-16 schools proposed by the previous committee.’

Deputy Fallaize said the new committee, which will be completed by deputies Richard Graham, Rhian Tooley, Mark Dorey and Peter Roffey, will strive to identify the two sites for the 11-18 schools and the transition model as soon as possible.

‘As a committee we are resolute in our determination. The best committees work as a team and ours greatly benefits from both a collective joint purpose and the diverse skills of our membership,’ he said.

‘We do not expect everyone to agree with the structure of secondary and post-16 education which was agreed by the States and on which we are now leading.

‘We will, however, do everything possible to ensure that there is a better understanding of why the States agreed to these reforms and also to keep people informed as the details are developed.’