Deputy resurrects plans for three 11-18 schools

Education, Sport & Culture’s long-awaited policy letter will finally be published today, detailing its proposals for three 11 to 16 schools at Les Beaucamps, Les Varendes and St Sampson’s High, with a sixth form and the Guernsey Institute at Les Ozouets.

But on the eve of the publication, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq has resurrected his amendment for the Assembly to reconsider three 11-18 schools instead.

Education president Andrea Dudley-Owen said she had been aware of the amendment for some time and had been having productive discussions with Deputy Le Tocq.

‘I understand why he sees there is some merit in the States debating the amendment as it is very important that the Assembly makes a final decision and sticks to it,’ she said.

But she stood by the view that Education’s proposals were the best education system for the 21st century.

‘We owe it to the people of Guernsey and Alderney to implement the decision without further delay and refocus attention away from the reorganisation of secondary and post-16 education, following the removal of the 11-plus, and on to the business of ensuring that every child going through the States-maintained school system is able to fulfil their true potential.’

Deputy Le Tocq first put the amendment to the States in February last year when the ‘pause and review’ option was debated.

He identified the main issues that needed consideration were costs, education outcomes and teacher recruitment.

‘I believe it is important we have a comparator before deciding the future of education in Guernsey. A three-school model could be potentially good for educational outcomes.’

Education has estimated the capital costs of its three-school model would be less than £60m.

Deputy Le Tocq said his option would be cheaper in terms of building costs and may also be less expensive in running costs.

‘It’s logical. Education staff have given me a clear understanding of what 11-18 schools on three campuses would look like. If you’re not building a brand new sixth form centre because we already have one at Les Varendes. The other two schools could easily be adapted to accommodate a sixth form because the expensive stuff that you’d need to rebuild – the science labs and technical stuff – which the committee is proposing to build new again – would not be necessary.

‘There’s a saving of potentially £13m. to £15m. immediately in the construction costs.’

Deputy Le Tocq admitted it was complicated, but there was no perfect solution.

‘I think Education’s proposals have a lot of merit. I could live with them but my main rub is that we need to be given a choice. It’s only fair that we look at an alternative that could work in Guernsey.’