As the local election approaches, the school is preparing and inspiring the island’s newest generation of voters with the aid of outside influences.
Martin Oetting is the director, co-producer and co-writer of the documentary, Purpose – A Wellbeing Economies Film, which explores an alternative to the world’s economic logic, questioning the purpose of economies and how they can be changed.
‘The documentary was something I stumbled into,’ said Mr Oetting.
‘I had never made a film before that. It took seven years to complete and I edited it all on my own laptop.’
It follows two individuals from Scotland and Italy who develop political projects in order to shift economic systems away from GDP growth, towards what matters to people and the planet – with social equity and community engagement at the core of its growth.
Local resident Jon Buckland, an active member of the wellbeing economy alliance, asked Mr Oetting to come and share his documentary with the Channel Islands.
Holding virtual sessions with Jersey residents, Mr Oetting brought his documentary to the local Year 12 geography, sociology, business and economics students, allowing them to discuss the topics of the documentary with the creator himself.
‘It’s a good opportunity to get this information now because it’s important that we start to make our own opinions and gather our knowledge on different topics,’ said 17-year-old Edie Dorrian.
‘It will help us with our voting and the choices we make.’
Classmate Cody Wallbridge agreed.
‘It’s important we learn this stuff now.’
Fellow student Kaden Leadbeater said the film had definitely helped to bring the class studies to life.
‘It’s really exciting,’ said sixth form principal Kieran James.
‘The students were really engaged with it, which was great to see.’
With hopes to engage and inspire its students, the school has set up deputy forums and invited local significant individuals in for discussions.
‘We’re trying to get that point across that, actually, “you can make a difference”,’ said Mr James.
‘Because when you’re 16 in Guernsey, you don’t feel that you necessarily can.’
Sophia Roger, 17, said the school has been ‘really good’ at offering a variety of opportunities to meet a range of specialists.
‘It’s nice because we can see what interests different people about their experiences to help us know what we might want to go into.’
A public screening of Purpose took place on the island at C5 Alliance with a discussion panel and Q&A held at the end – something Mr Oetting said he always includes.
‘We feel it requires this conversation afterwards to process and discuss and that’s been working quite well.
‘We showed it for the first time in Iceland last June and since then we’ve shown it in nine countries. We do screenings almost every week in Germany.’
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