Friday 06 December 2019
The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture is inviting tenders for the construction work to develop the new 11-18 Lisia School.
The work will involve repurposing existing space and building substantial extensions at St Sampson's High School to create Victor Hugo College and at Les Beaucamps High School to create de Saumarez College.
The Committee has also submitted the planning application for the construction projects to the Development & Planning Authority (DPA).
The issuing of tender documents and the submission of the planning application follows agreement of the Policy & Resources Committee to the next tranche of funding to support the significant reforms to education which were agreed by the States initially in January 2018 and then in more detail in September 2019.
Subject to planning approval, works are due to commence on-site in 2020; a phased construction programme will allow the existing buildings to continue in operation during construction, with the colleges ready for use for the beginning of the 2022 academic year.
As the colleges will accommodate more students than the current schools on those sites, ARUP was appointed to carry out a full Traffic Impact Assessment. This provides advice on transport management to support the redevelopment of both college sites, including active travel solutions.
The planning application includes the results of the Traffic Impact Assessment. To ensure that the transport management solutions are robust, they are based on forecasts of the maximum possible infrastructure demand around the two college sites, including the potential for new housing developments in St Sampson's in the next few years.
Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
'We reached a major milestone in September when we obtained all the approvals necessary from the States in relation to the capital investment to develop Lisia School and its two Colleges - Victor Hugo and de Saumarez. Commencement of the planning application and tender process is another significant step.
'The Committee recognises the importance of communication and engagement with parents, teachers, students and local residents, in particular at this time of substantial change in education and is working with education officers to ensure greater focus on engagement in the months ahead.
'There are some elements of the new model which are fixed. For example, secondary education being delivered in two 11-18 colleges and the footprint of the new buildings because these are determined by the budget limit already set by the States. However, many of the questions and issues raised by school staff and the teaching unions concern matters where final decisions are yet to be made. These include internal building space configuration, operational design and the curriculum model. I am thankful to school staff, the unions and school leaders for taking the time to discuss their views and look forward to more discussion before anything is finalised.'
