Scrutiny queries two-school choice criteria

In light of his committee’s public hearing where the future of education was in the spotlight, Deputy Chris Green said there were question marks over the site selection process.

‘The committee said that their decision to move forward with sites at Beaucamps and at Baubigny was based on a political decision which had taken into account four factors: the costs, the existing facilities, geography, and the possible disruption to pupils,’ he said.

‘These factors were not weighted in any way. How objective this decision is remains to be seen.’

Education president Matt Fallaize said Les Beaucamps and St Sampson’s were the least expensive to convert into larger schools and that they have the most-modern facilities.

‘He told us that the Les Varendes site had not been chosen as it would require over £20m. investment to make it fit for purpose and the building works to extend it could not be done without disrupting the current year groups,’ replied Deputy Green.

‘However, the Scrutiny panel felt that it was surprising that the Les Varendes site had been excluded bearing in mind the fact that it is a central site in the island, it already has good road infrastructure serving the site, it already has a functioning sixth form centre and it already has sporting facilities and playing fields next to the site.

‘The panel would like to understand more about the decision to exclude the Les Varendes site. We would also want to interrogate further the decision-making process around the move not to rebuild La Mare de Carteret High in light of the original Design Engine comments.’

The Design Engine study was commissioned by the former Education Committee last year using the £93,000 funding delegated by Policy & Resources to investigate a two-school model.

It ruled that St Sampson’s and La Mare de Carteret were the most suitable sites.

Deputy Fallaize said these findings had to be viewed in the context that the architectural practice was ‘heavily involved’ in the La Mare project, while it was also based on assumptions including oversized space standards.

Deputy Green said the committee’s inability to provide costings was also concerning.

‘There is still no clarity on how much it will cost – in terms of capital expenditure – for the extensions to the two school sites.

‘The committee may well put a range of figures into the policy letter that will be debated in June of 2019 rather than a single figure.

‘We are led to believe that the figure will be a very substantial figure in the tens of millions at least.

‘As a result, there must not be any sense that the States in June 2019 is backed into a corner and must automatically endorse the proposals.

‘There must be considerable analysis and scrutiny of the financial, educational and practical aspects to the plans up to and including in the States debate. There must be assurance about value-for-money considerations.’

The projected general revenue savings, which are yet to be published, will likewise require ‘very careful assessment’, he said.