Schools deserve more than a tired debate

At times members can be easily swayed to consider a ‘Pause and Review’. It’s particularly attractive if you don’t feel you have all the facts, or don’t know the easy answer.

Last spring, as the two-school model was heading inexorably towards the rocks, the option to delay and try again was unsurprisingly seductive.

Now as new proposals are dripped out – a mini States debate during ‘Question Time’, followed by two public meetings, followed by the release of the States report seems a rather odd, or certainly non-traditional way to go about things – the possibility of further delay emerges.

Especially with a new amendment from Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, raising, and potentially ultimately dismissing, an option of three 11-18 schools, set to join the fray.

As electoral promises went, back last autumn, stating a belief in a three-school model was a no-brainer for those seeking election. Now, while nobody is sensing a reverse to the defeated Lisia School model, those new members’ confidence and belief in the ‘easy to say, harder to deliver’ model, is being tested. After a relatively straightforward easing into power, this is their first real test.

They must try to get heads around costs. Is a new model of education cheaper in terms of capital and revenue costs? Figures today are being thrown around. Less than £60m. compares favourably to £157m. But is that a like-for-like comparison?

Some longer-serving members will have already lived through those battles. For some of them, the test will be different.

Maybe they will be dogged not by uncertainty, but by ennui.

While some have suggested that the optimum model for education is just to leave well alone, islanders really want their deputies to step up on this one. It won't be easy. As the Education president says, there is no silver bullet here.

But the electorate will want deputies to remove uncertainty, make a decision, and make it the best, most informed decision that they possibly can.