Changes to schoolchildren's transition plans

Thursday 12 March 2020

Education, Sport & Culture President Matt Fallaize has written to parents outlining how the States-agreed 'pause and review' of the committee's reforms will affect their children's transition into the two 11-18 colleges.

The letter details how the States decision, which asked ESC to review and compare its proposed one-school model with other viable alternatives and report back by the end of the year, will impact ESC's proposed transition arrangements.

"As many of you will know, last week the States voted to pause the plans to introduce two 11-18 colleges. This pause is designed to allow time to compare different ways of organising secondary education before the States reconsider which approach is best for Guernsey.

"We know that many of you will have questions or be concerned about what this pause means for your children. It will not be possible to establish the same level of certainty again until the next States (after the General Election) have agreed the future structure of secondary education."

Pictured: A protest calling for a 'pause and review" of education reforms was successful. 

The letter details the information that Education is able to share at this time. This is broken down into Year 7 and 8 students, the current Year 6 and those in Year 5 and below. 

Current Year 7 and Year 8 students

"We had previously let you know that, in September 2022, the Year 7 and Year 8 students currently studying at La Mare de Carteret High School would move to the new de Saumarez College (Les Beaucamps) and the Year 7 students currently at the Grammar School & Sixth Form Centre would move to Victor Hugo (St Sampson’s) College.

"These moves are now not possible because of the States’ decision last week to pause the plans to expand those two school buildings. For the time being these students will remain at their current schools, but this might need to be reconsidered when the next States have re-established more certainty about the long-term structure for secondary education.

Current Year 6

"The current Year 6 students will move to the secondary schools they are currently expecting to attend based on the ‘partner school’ system previously advised.  

Pictured: The feeder school system for the Current Year 6 pupils. 

Current Year 5 and younger students

"For students who will start secondary school in September 2021 and in the years that follow (students currently in Year 5 and below), we need to review the secondary school admission arrangements. The States’ decision to ‘pause and review’ means that, in September 2021, it will not be possible to accommodate all new Year 7 students at Les Beaucamps and St Sampson’s as originally planned.

"We are working to put in place secondary school admission plans for students currently in Year 5 and below. We will write to you again soon to let you know what these revised plans will be.

"But it is important to keep in mind that those admission arrangements may be temporary, depending on the next States’ decision on the long-term structure for secondary education."

Deputy Fallaize concluded by referencing the clarity his committee will seek about the scope of the pause and review in the States next week. 

"The Committee is seeking clarity from the States over various aspects of the decision to ‘pause and review’. We hope to get that clarity next week.

"If you have any questions, please email them to educationfuture@gov.gg - the team will be pleased to help you."

Pictured top: Deputy Matt Fallaize.