‘Keep sixth form centre at Les Varendes’ - Roffey

Education announced last month that it would move the sixth form centre to La Mare de Carteret temporarily from 2025, following the collapse of its contract with RG Falla, to construct a new £105m. post-16 campus at Les Ozouets.

‘For reasons unrelated to any political opposition, the timetable for reform has been delayed,’ Deputy Roffey said.

‘Not only that, but the response of the Education Committee to that delay, and their proposed interim plans, are so absurd that they really do require pushback.

‘The time has come when I really have to speak out over the latest plans. They are going from the ludicrous to the surreal.’

Deputy Roffey voted against the education model agreed by the States in September 2021, which includes three 11-16 schools at St Sampson’s, Les Beaucamps and Les Varendes, with separate sixth form and further education centres at Les Ozouets.

He called it a ‘very bad decision’, but said he had been willing to accept it on the grounds of supporting democracy and avoiding further delays.

‘But the latest chapter in this saga really does beggar belief and requires vocal opposition. Faced with at least a year’s delay – maybe more – in building the new sixth form college, the Education committee is proposing moving it out of a purpose-built facility and into a school which for the past 20 years successive committees have contended either needed to be closed or rebuilt. What the heck is going on?’

Deputy Roffey has not ruled out leading a requete to keep sixth form studies at Les Varendes, but wondered if it would be better coming from a deputy not connected with a previous Education Committee. However, he said he did want to see the sixth form staying at Les Varendes as the interim measure while the Ozouets project proceeds.

‘I think most people would see that as sensible,’ he said.

‘Then what occurs to me is that it would be better to invest in Les Varendes, probably at far less cost than building a new sixth form down the road, and maintain it as the permanent home for the sixth form.’

Deputy Roffey agreed plans should continue for a new Guernsey Institute at Les Ozouets, bringing together the College of Further Education, GTA University Centre and Institute of Health & Social Care Studies.

Education, Sport & Culture president Andrea Dudley-Owen said that any attempt by political opponents of ESC’s model to seize on this as an opportunity for point-scoring would be hugely detrimental to young people, adult learners and workforce.

‘I am very disappointed to have been proven correct in my belief that such an attempt would be made, and especially concerned that Deputy Roffey has made no approach to our committee to better understand the issues and our plans to manage them,’ she said.