ESC’s changes in the best interests of our children

I am convinced that under the old system my eldest son would have ‘passed’ his way to the Grammar School, we also gave our son the chance to go to Elizabeth College if he wanted to. However, he preferred to transfer to Beaucamps with all of his friends – and he’s thriving and loving it.

Although we are impressed by the all-ability teaching at Beaucamps, what we are really looking forward to is the range of opportunities and curriculum choices which the larger De Saumarez College will provide. While a small, all-ability school such as Beaucamps has now become is fine in Year 7, it will struggle to provide the range of subjects and the degree of setting which the top comprehensives elsewhere make available (I have a nephew and a niece thriving at a school with over 2,000 pupils in East Sussex in the UK, where it is possible to take an A-level in subjects as diverse as Mandarin and Russian).

Among other things, what attracts us to the currently proposed model are:

n 11-18 schools mean our children can go from Year 7 to A-levels without having to move school

n 11-18 schools will make it easier to recruit staff

n An all-ability school allows for late developers to be better catered for

n Bigger schools mean more choices

n Bigger schools mean bigger facilities and less reliance on one or two specialist teachers; far more robust.

I know change is always traumatic and controversial, but these changes are clearly in the best interests of Guernsey children. Indeed, they draw on the experience of the very best all-ability schools elsewhere.

When our son chose Beaucamps over Elizabeth College we were delighted as we knew something much better was in the pipeline. I felt safe in that opinion then as the States had voted overwhelmingly for it. I remain very optimistic about the prospects for both of my sons’ education in the exciting new system. Despite all the unfounded ‘noise’ being made by those opposed (many of whom were always against scrapping selection), I know many other parents with children currently in the system who agree with me. Even those who don’t share my enthusiasm for the proposed new system are exasperated at the prospect of yet another change of direction.

I am deeply fearful that there will be a real damaging impact on all of Guernsey’s children currently in the system if the States support this requete, adding more delay quite clearly orchestrated for political gain. This politics is playing with my children’s education and lifelong opportunities.

Please, for goodness’ sake deputies, you have made a clear decision – twice – just get on with it.

Deputies Dudley-Owen, Gollop, Lowe, Smithies and Queripel – please find another cause for your upcoming election campaigns and get on with that instead.

ALEX DUNCAN

Address withheld.