Thursday 25 October 2018
The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has announced St Sampson's and Les Beaucamps school sites will be used for the two new 11-18 colleges.
A full transition plan has also been published, setting out where students who are currently in primary or secondary schools will be educated throughout their years in secondary education.
Committee President Matt Fallaize has written to all school staff and parents. He confirmed that the two colleges, operating as one school, will largely be in place by September 2022 and will be fully operational by September 2023 with facilities that meet the highest educational standards.
'Both the Baubigny and Les Beaucamps sites have several advantages. They are conveniently located for their partner primary schools. The existing facilities are built to modern design standards and have a long-term lifespan. There are good opportunities for the necessary extensions to be built. And they can continue to operate as schools during the construction period.
Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
'The Committee considers that these two sites are clearly the best locations for the two 11 to 18 colleges. All of the site options have been researched and the Committee has taken an objective view based on the practicalities of each site.
The two sites which we wish to use present a cost-effective option. Other site options would be more expensive and/or create too much disruption for students. Using the sites which currently have the highest standard of facilities - mostly because they have been built more recently - removes the need to build a completely new school at La Mare de Carteret and to carry out extensive refurbishment of the Les Varendes site, which is nearly 35 years old and which would have required students there to move to another site during refurbishment before being moved back.
'The school at Baubigny was opened in 2008 at a cost of £43.5m, while the school at Les Beaucamps was opened in 2012 at a cost of £37m.
The Committee will take a report to the States by the middle of 2019 to seek funding for the necessary building works. This report will contain all of the details necessary to obtain that funding, including in relation to costs. The report will also include proposals for the capital developments necessary to create the new integrated College of Further Education, Institute of Health and Social Care Studies and GTA University Centre at Les Ozouets and the redevelopment of La Mare de Carteret Primary School.
Under the plans agreed by the States in January, St Anne's School will continue to provide secondary education in Alderney and Le Murier School and Les Voies School will continue to provide for students with special educational needs.
Deputy Fallaize said:
'While buildings are important, clearly education is about much more than buildings. Throughout this period of change the Committee will continue to work with educationalists and other colleagues in schools to ensure that the main focus remains on providing the best possible opportunities for the students of today and tomorrow. We are determined to capture the very best of our existing schools in their two successor colleges.
'In the coming months and years we will work closely with our teaching profession and their union representatives as we transition from four sites to two. The Committee confirms that there will be a teaching position for all current secondary teachers who want one following the reforms. This will, however, be a period of change for staff and a collaborative approach with open dialogue is essential.'
The tables below set out where students who are currently in primary or secondary schools will be educated throughout their secondary education.
From September 2021 all students entering Year 7 (current Year 4 and below) will do so at the St Sampson's or Les Beaucamps sites and will not need to move during their remaining years in compulsory education.
The transition plan was developed following consultation with educationalists. It means that even during the transition period very nearly 90% of students will complete their compulsory education on the same site which they joined for Year 7.
The full letter is available at www.gov.gg/secondaryeducation.
