Selection may yet rise from its death bed
IN A QUIRK of States procedure deputies barely had time to register yesterday's historic decision to end school selection at 11 before they were asked to vote again on exactly the same question in reverse. Yes, HM Procureur told confused deputies, the first vote would be entirely null and void if enough deputies changed their mind with the ink barely dry on the first vote sheet.
Thankfully, embarrassment was avoided and the result did not change – but it was an indication of what is to come.
All-ability education supporters who are tempted to hang out the bunting following the 26-20 vote should resist the temptation until the winning line is crossed.
To start with there is today's debate, Deputy Trott's last-ditch amendment and a vote on the potential closure of a school. Having carried the day yesterday Treasury minister Gavin St Pier will be determined to push home his advantage and secure the prize of a three-school system.
If he and his Treasury colleagues are successful it will open a Pandora's box that Education was determined would remain shut.
For then there has to be a decision. Which is more important? To prevent a school from closing or keep the prize of ending the 11-plus?
Given that Education has made great play of the likely disruption to the entire system of moving to a three-school model, it is not an easy call.
There would be the uncertainty, for example, of which school would close. Ironically, given its recent glowing report, that could be La Mare with the consequent savings of millions in construction costs.
Equally, if Treasury loses the struggle and the States looks set for the one-school-four-campuses model, there is the option for its supporters to vote out the main proposition.
At that stage only three deputies need change their vote and the 11-plus amendment would be lost in the rubble of Education's plans.
And if the 11-plus ceases to exist in either a three- or four-school system it is, of course, far from the end of the matter.
The next Assembly cannot be bound by this one and, should those voters who wanted to keep selection turn the general election into an 11-plus referendum, the bunting might be put away for ever.
