New Blanchelande interim principal keen to retain its ‘small school’ feel

Mike Elward was recently made interim principal at the school, having spent the previous seven years as its vice-principal. Before that, he taught at the Grammar school for 12 years, eventually becoming assistant head.

‘We’re not looking for massive growth, although we have got places available in year groups,’ he said.

‘What makes Blanchelande so unique is that you’re getting that small school feel all the way throughout from nursery to sixth form, and that individual, unique teaching.

‘Part of the values of the school are really valuing the individual, and nurturing their talents.’

The school has seen a host of new projects over the last few years, most noticeably the opening of its own sixth form centre. In November 2022 it formally purchased the estate on which the school is located, from the De La Salle Brothers, a French Christian order, for £1.4m.

‘I was the vice-principal when the big changes were taking place, facilitating the growth of the school from around 305 students, when I arrived, to 471 at the end of the summer. That’s quite a substantial difference.

‘There have been new classrooms, renovated science labs, the opening of the sixth form, a brand new purpose-built library, and we have opened the nursery, so we’re now catering from ages two to 18.’

Despite being the smallest of the island’s grant-aided colleges in terms of number of pupils, when it comes to the size of its estate, at 40 acres, Blanchelande is punching well above its weight.

‘Over the last 12 months, we have developed a nature trail on land we weren’t using. It’s now used for everything from art and science lessons to cross country.

‘The plan is for the school to build on all the facilities that we’ve got, and there are some more exciting projects which we’re going to be announcing very soon.’

Mr Elward hopes the school’s rural setting will encourage more people in the east of the island to send their sons and daughters there.

‘We’re aware that a lot of families in Town don’t necessarily consider us, but we run shuttle services from the centre of Town every morning and after school. We have open days coming up where islanders can see all we have to offer.’

As interim principal, Mr Elward will also be dealing with politicians, as he becomes part of negotiations with Education, Sport & Culture about the future of States funding of the grant-aided colleges.

The States currently grants about £3.5m. a year in total to the three schools, but the current deal ends in 2026.

Talks between ESC and the colleges started last year but are yet to produce an agreement which could be recommended to the States Assembly.

Members of ESC are understood to have a range of views about whether the grants should be maintained, reduced or axed altogether.

‘I think when you’re looking at an island that has the percentage of privately-educated pupils that we do, there needs to be some kind of state involvement,’ said Mr Elward.

‘It is a question of cost effectiveness. If those 30% did not go to private schools, they would have to go somewhere else.

‘Whatever method or yardstick the States is using for that funding needs to be transparent and fair.’

Mr Elward thought it was possible that negotiations may need to be concluded after the next general election in June 2025.

‘It’s the nature of the political cycle that you look at the appetites of individual deputies, but ultimately this is a question for all educators on the island and that includes the civil service,’ he said.

‘All the stakeholders really need to make it happen, because if it doesn’t happen the States need to ask themselves what’s happening to the provision not just of secondary education, but also primary, because all the colleges are part of the primary sector as well.’