ESC on right track

That is not, and never has been, the case in Guernsey, where less finance has been available for the 11-16 schools than for those catering for 11- to 18-year-olds and less technical and other support has also been provided. It is time that that was put right and the way forward proposed certainly ticks all the boxes. The word ‘excellent’ has been used in connection with Guernsey’s education, but it has not been excellent for all, and only as a result of many teachers’ hard work and encouragement over the years have so many young people achieved their potential in a system that has been divisive.

n Equality of opportunity is essential.

n The provision of more specialist teachers in an 11-18 establishment will ensure that teaching and learning is of the highest quality.

n Community opportunities for all aspects of education – sport, music, drama, etc. – encourage all to develop fully with role models at all stages and are more achievable with larger numbers.

n Students will progress through without another division at 16 and staff will know them and be able to encourage them as a result to take their education further.

n A variety of accreditations is possible that recognises a range of achievements.

n The internal organisation of the establishments will ensure proper pastoral care and that students are not ‘bundled together’, so that discipline is maintained.

Other issues mentioned by some in correspondence:

n Bullying occurs in every school and in society generally, but it is dealt with in schools and will continue to be, particularly when it is brought to staff attention. Of course, cyber-bullying creates more problems today and parents and staff need to work together to be aware of it and ensure that young people remain safe.

n No cars should be brought to school by students – that should never have been allowed in the first place. In other countries they are prohibited from doing so and with our parking problems and the manner in which residents can be denied access to their properties or nearby car parks because of student cars, that should be banned.

Dick Taylor’s letter in the Press, on 23 August last, summed up the need for the changes envisaged, and as a teacher for 42 years and a head teacher for over 15 years in Guernsey, I agreed whole-heartedly with him. I feel that I have the experience, too, to comment on the manner in which the education system has developed here over the years. Far-sighted men and women have made sure that all children were eventually provided with education in the island and those with vision have progressed systems and moved that forward. Ideas about the different forms of learning and understanding them, as well as recognising the needs of the community, have changed. Now is the time to adhere to the States’ decisions, not procrastinate any longer, and ensure certainty for our students.

The legacy of rebuilding Les Beaucamps has created difficulties for ESC, but that goes back to the report commissioned by Education in 1999/2000 when the results were ignored – the condition survey showed that Les Beaucamps was structurally sound and could be refurbished, while La Mare de Carteret needed replacing. Nothing can be done about that now, but also it should be remembered that the intervention of the then-Treasury and Resources Department, in 2004, resulted in fewer classrooms and narrower corridors at St Sampson’s High School when that was built. Deputy Martin Ozanne, at the time, was very upset about those changes, which have had an effect on the school since it opened.

I want our present Education president to be able to take the proposals forward successfully, in spite of some prevarication.

JENNY TASKER

jenny@taskeronline.com