Is it all just about retaining the Grammar school?

He announced that the committee, by a majority of three to two, was in favour of pursuing an all-ability system with just three schools, in line with those resolutions. He however would continue to fight for an alternative form of selection to the 11-plus, while acknowledging that the exam and continuous assessment were not viable options.

That evening he was interviewed by Gareth Owen on BBC Guernsey and at the very end was asked 'What would you say to parents tonight?'

His reply was as follows: 'What I would say to parents tonight is if your children are at the Grammar School, they are going to be safe on base for at least five years and there is plenty of time for that position to be lengthened, that if there is going to be a change to selective… err non-selective education it is some way down the tracks and I think saving the Grammar School is well worth the effort.'

Clearly he has pinned his colours to the mast and given a clear indication that while he may have listened to the island's head teachers and well over 300 from the teaching profession, he has taken very little on board other than that continuous assessment would be disastrous.

That is a little embarrassing for all those deputies who bought into the idea, sold to them by Deputy Trott, that continuous assessment was the answer. He introduced the idea audaciously with the prophetic words, 'This amendment is the people of the Bailiwick of Guernsey's amendment'.

The claim that 7/8 out of 10 voters on doorsteps want to retain selection and/or the Grammar School has never been proved or independently validated. Indeed, since the teachers' survey, support for those claims seems to have largely evaporated, judging by the number of letters to the Guernsey Press, questions on the Sunday phone-in and people at the deputies' drop-ins.

For Paul Le Pelley, this is clearly not a fight to retain selection but rather to retain just one school – the Grammar School.

The fact that in his reply to Gareth's question he does not make any mention of the majority of the students or parents on this island to my mind speaks volumes.

For me, the most disturbing part in the whole sorry saga is that certain politicians are prepared to play political games in the hope that they come out on top, with little or no regard for the fact that they are playing with the futures of the island's children.

They should be ashamed of themselves, but instead think they are being clever.

I know teachers who look on aghast at the political shenanigans and manipulations that are taking place in front of the media and behind the scenes.

Guernsey government at its absolute worst.

They face the children in the classrooms on a daily basis and it must at times bring a tear to their eye.

I think the only way forward now is for teachers on the island to set up a series of public presentations to explain to the general public, some of whom are still very misinformed on these matters, just how bright the future could be for education on Guernsey if we can start listening to some of the people who really know and really care – the teaching profession, many of whom are parents of school-age children themselves, of course.

They have no vested interest other than the welfare of the children of Guernsey.

TIM R. LANGLOIS,

L'Ecluse,

Rue des Marchez,

St Peter's,

GY7 9AF.