Monday 22 March 2021
An amendment to the Government Work Plan seeks to re-insert the much-maligned two-school model 'front and centre' to the debate on the future of Secondary and post-16 education.
The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has already committed to publishing work carried out by the former Committee comparing its two-school plans to other models. It has also committed to publishing all relevant work to evidence why its recommended plans for the future of Secondary and post-16 education are the best option for Guernsey when all relevant considerations are taken into account.
The Committee is deeply concerned that the amendment, submitted by Deputies Bury and Gabriel due to be debated this week, seeks to drag its work backwards by forcing it to bring the two-school model back into consideration. The Committee's view is clear; the two-school model should be consigned to history.
The States will be asked by the Committee to show its confidence that the Committee will honour its commitment to propose a workable policy direction for secondary and post-16 education, by rejecting this amendment. The Committee has signalled its intent to publish a policy letter which will outline its recommendations to the States, will evidence why it believes three 11-16 schools and a post-16 campus is right for Guernsey, and which will provide all relevant background research and material to enable the Assembly to make the decision.
Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
'I was shocked by the changes I found in Education when I returned to the Committee after an absence of two-and-a-half years. Past political decisions have not served Guernsey well and there is a huge amount of work for us to do, repairing relationships with staff and strengthening a seriously depleted Education office. This Committee wants to move forward and does not want to be delayed by reigniting any debate on the feasibility of two schools when it has been so roundly rejected.
'The Pause & Review Requete was clear, calling for a broad, comprehensive review. Instead the previous Committee returned to the States in a rush to straight-jacket itself into a review, which looked to many as an intention to pre-determine the outcome. I am sure this amendment is well intentioned, but it is wholly unnecessary given the commitment we have already made to deliver a comprehensive piece of work, including all relevant evidence and background information leading to our recommendations - as well as work carried out by the former Committee.
'The amendment brings the two school model back, front and centre to discussions, dragging us backwards, as a small number of our colleagues in the States this term seem committed to doing. We have listened carefully to the voice of the community over the last 18 months on this emotive subject, and what we have heard is that the two-school model is completely at odds with what the community, including the majority of secondary school staff, want.
'The two-school model needs to be consigned to history and as the Committee that has been elected to lead this work - we won't budge on that.'
Deputy Bob Murray, Vice-President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
'I think it's fair to say that no other Committee so far this term has faced similar attempts to drag it back to the work of its predecessors. In our case, predecessors who, I might add, faced more opposition to their plans than any Committee in recent history. These are strange times but the Committee remains focused on delivering the change we were elected to do - change that the vast majority of States Members have already committed to given so many members signalled a preference for a three-school model in their manifestos.
'Now is not the time for moving backwards and opening up the same discussions again. This is the time to take care of the future of Guernsey's education provision and drive it forward in an holistic way. Our Committee is going to do that, but the size of the task means this cannot be done within one policy letter to establish the direction of travel for secondary and post-16 education. We are looking at all facets of education in a phased approach, whether that be Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision, curriculum, Ofsted inspections or the Education Law, we have a plan that we can - and will - deliver, if we're not continually dragged backwards.'
