St Sampson's teachers back three-school model

Some 98.9% of staff have given their backing to the main rival of the two school model.

In an email, which could mark the death blow to the two 11-18 schools, the teachers appeal to all local politicians to back the motion put forward by Deputies Gavin St Pier and Lyndon Trott.

The president and vice president of Policy & Resources have put forward an option to create three 11-16 schools at St Sampson's, Les Beaucamps and Les Varendes.

The two deputies also want one of the schools to have what is known as a 'co-located' sixth form centre explored, and it is considered inevitable that this would be at Les Varendes.

The tone of the email from the teachers, which has also been sent to all the current headteachers, is one of deep frustration, and suggests that communication and negotiations are not working.

'Following on from our letter published on 20th January, little has been done to assuage our concerns.

'Responses to questions raised have not been quantified or debated; they are vague and, in some instances irrelevant. A response remains a response until it becomes an agreement!

'Furthermore, we believe that there have been many comments made by ESC that are simply not true, misleading or have been made to scare the public to try and support their plans.'

Deputies St Pier and Trott have promised that if their bid is successful there would be proper engagement with the profession to create a model that everyone can buy into.

'We appreciate that the Deputy St Pier/Trott amendment includes liaison with stakeholders which, despite ESC’s comments to the contrary, has not happened with the present committee or its leaders.

'We would encourage meetings with deputies and leaders in the coming weeks to discuss this further, to correct and support our misgivings with the two site, one school model and build on a plan going forward.'

The email also cites the strong backlash in the community to the two big schools at St Sampson's and Beaucamps.

A well-supported protest march, the reaction of the douzaines and social media in meltdown, are all referred to.

Despite the opposition, ESC is still clinging on determinedly to its two school model.

It believes that creating 11-16 schools would ignore a large body of evidence that suggests 11-18 schools get better academic results because of improved teacher recruitment and the creation of role-models for younger students.

So far in this debate, the St Sampson's teachers have been the most outspoken, and it remains to be seen whether other teachers will follow their lead in supporting the St Pier / Trott amendment.

The big showdown on education is expected to dominate the States debate next week.