About 60 other non-teaching staff employed by the States are regularly working from the building, which has been renamed Footes Lane House, and the Youth Commission charity has moved approximately 20 members of staff there.
But deputies are being assured that it could easily be turned back into teaching and learning space if the Education, Sport & Culture Committee recommends using it for sixth form studies again.
‘Its current use does not compromise the attractiveness or feasibility of future options. The space could be reconfigured with minor adjustments, if required,’ said ESC president Paul Montague.
His committee recently paused plans for a new Sixth Form Centre at Les Ozouets when the estimated cost soared towards £50m., and it is currently considering a range of alternative options for the future of A-level studies, once the temporary set-up at the former La Mare de Carteret High School comes to an end.
Resuming sixth form studies at Footes Lane House, adjacent to Les Varendes High School, is one of only a few credible options on a lengthy list of potential sites recently presented to ESC.
And it has now become clear that it was converted into temporary office space only after officials guaranteed senior politicians, including Policy & Resources president Lindsay de Sausmarez, that it could be returned to teachers and students at minimal cost.
Deputy de Sausmarez was among several critics of moving years 12 and 13 to La Mare de Carteret who polled strongly at last year’s general election.
‘Conscious that returning the former Sixth Form Centre building at Les Varendes to its original use may be one of the options that the incoming ESC Committee might need to consider with respect to finding the sixth form a permanent location, I did ask questions early in this term around how easy or otherwise that might be, if at a future point in time that were necessary or desirable,’ she said.
‘I was assured that, as there have been relatively few changes made to the configuration of the building, it would not be difficult to adapt it once again to become a teaching and learning environment, should such a decision be taken.’
Deputy de Sausmarez, who was not speaking on behalf of her committee, said she knew first-hand that the building was still being used for educational purposes because she attends a course which is taught there.
‘I am in no way pre-empting or stating a preference for any particular option around the sixth form’s permanent home in future. I asked the question early in the term just because I wanted to know that the work we were undertaking at the time was not compromising future options, and I received that assurance,’ she said.
Mark Ogier, the States’ director of estates, said that ‘just over 100’ States staff were now based at Footes Lane House, including the Education Office, the Music Service and specialists in sexual health, school attendance, child psychology and careers advice.
He estimated that ‘around 60’ further staff use the building as a base or visit frequently, including more than 40 who work in transport services.
Deputy Montague, who worked from the building when he was a teacher before entering the States, said the former Sixth Form Centre was providing some facilities which were previously unavailable.
‘Footes Lane House is being fully utilised, including dedicated space for education training, which is something that was not previously possible. This space is supporting continuing professional development for our island’s education staff,’ he said.
A few years ago, the school at Les Varendes was operating with nearly 1,100 students across the 11-18 age range, hundreds more than are based there at present, and the number of secondary school and sixth form students across the island is projected to continue falling sharply in the years ahead.
However, ESC members have been advised that the buildings at Les Varendes would need to be extended if the Sixth Form Centre was to be moved back there following its temporary period at La Mare de Carteret.
‘It is important to address the misconception that a future sixth form could be accommodated solely within this building [Footes Lane House]. It cannot,’ said Deputy Montague. ‘When previously based at Les Varendes, the sixth form relied on significant shared space within the school.
‘The committee’s ongoing review is therefore focused on identifying a solution that provides sufficient, dedicated space for a Sixth Form Centre.’
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