Requete leader: ‘Let us heal rifts brought on by education debate’

The four-day education debate exposed a deep division in the States, and immediately after the final vote there were angry shouts and outbursts from some politicians.

Requete instigator Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, pictured, acknowledged the amount of hurt the debate had caused some people.

She urged her political colleagues to work together for the good of the island’s children.

‘Many of the States members are parents with children of school age, as am I, and therefore of course decisions that are taken also affect us as members of the community so we will have an emotional attachment. But we do need though to be able to detach from that and put on a professional veneer and be able to view things objectively.

‘This debate has stirred an immense amount of emotion in some, and I do deeply regret that.’

The main criticisms of the pause-and-review requete were that it would lead to uncertainty for children and parents, waste millions of pounds, damage teacher recruitment, lower academic outcomes, and keep students, particularly of La Mare de Carteret School and the College of FE, in crumbling facilities.

Deputy Dudley-Owen was not convinced. ‘I think that those claims have been over-exaggerated and I don’t think that when the committee gets to work on the review that those claims will be found to be substantiated in any way.’

She refused to be drawn on whether the Education, Sport & Culture members should step aside, but offered to throw her hat into the ring if a vacancy appeared. ‘I don’t want to second guess what the committee will do.

‘If they decide to resign then I would put myself forward to lead the committee and the review because I think it’s the only responsible thing to do.

‘I’ve had the conviction to bring the requete and I’m absolutely sincere in my aims that Guernsey really needs to design an education system fit to meet the challenges of the 21st century, nothing less.

‘If the States will accept me then I will roll up my sleeves and start work with gusto.’

Deputy Matt Fallaize, president of Education, Sport & Culture, said: ‘The States direction is that the development of the two 11-18 colleges should be paused and a report prepared comparing this model with various other secondary education models which have been considered over the years.

‘The committee will take a few days to consider its next steps.

‘Obviously we are considering our positions and whether the review of various education models is best undertaken by our committee, a completely new committee or a blend of supporters and opponents of the model which has been paused.

‘We will come to a final decision by the end of the weekend.’

‘I am conscious of the need to understand how Deputy Dudley-Owen sees the next steps to carry out the work directed by the States. I have been in touch with her and hope we will have a full discussion imminently.’