Wednesday 11 March 2020
The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has today submitted a Policy Letter that asks the States to provide greater clarity on the further review of secondary education models.
While the States last week voted to pause work to develop two 11-18 colleges, pending a further review of education models previously considered, the Committee believes there is a need for additional clarity regarding the following:
- the terms of the review and the level of detail required when comparing various education models;
- the models which the States wish to be included in, and as importantly excluded from, the review;
- the timeline for completing the review.
In addition, the Committee wishes to secure the concept of a single secondary school operating from a number of colleges or campuses and the development of The Guernsey Institute, both of which have been left in doubt by the Resolutions made by the States last week. The Committee respects that this may have been inadvertent given comments made by signatories to the Requete.
The Committee will also ask the States to identify a budget for the review and acknowledge that delaying the reforms to secondary education agreed previously - in particular not consolidating the number of schools or sites - will inevitably require a higher level of expenditure over the next few years than that anticipated in the Committee's extant plan for efficiency savings.
There is also the question of the future of the Committee itself. The present States' term ends on the 30th of June and therefore the future structure of secondary education will be determined by the next States. However, the Committee believes the review of models must make considerable progress in the remaining three-and-a-half months of the present States' term.
The Committee is confident it is well placed to oversee the initial phase of the review, which is likely to be more technical in nature and be led by officers rather than politically.
Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
'Following the recent decision to pause the development of the secondary education model agreed previously, the Committee believes it requires the express authority of the States to lead the early stages of the review directed by the States and to continue to lead the many other aspects of the Committee's responsibilities. Therefore, the Committee is submitting a Proposition asking the States to endorse its continuation in office. Should the States not wish to do so, it would be advantageous to elect a new Committee expeditiously.
As importantly, providing the necessary clarity now will allow the review of education models to be appropriately focused and increase the prospects of it resulting in the next States finally being able not only to determine the future structure but to complete the task of introducing it. This in the best interests of children, parents and schools. It will also inform the Committee's engagement with key stakeholders, such as the teaching profession, during the review.'
The Policy Letter is available to read under the 'Items lodged for future States Meetings' menu at https://gov.gg/StatesMeetings
