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There are calls for the transition to the two-school model of secondary education to start as soon as possible, to end the uncertainty which is still hanging over some teaching staff and children.
The national Teachers' Union, the NASUWT, said it is most pleased that the announcement earlier this week included a promise that there will be no compulsory redundancies of teaching staff.
In his letter, released to staff and parents of children currently in education on Wednesday, Deputy Matt Fallaize, said:
"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."
Responding to the announcements made by the President of Education, Sport and Culture, the General Secretary of the NASUWT, Chris Keates, said the union welcomes the plans but now wants work to start as a matter of urgency.
“The NASUWT welcomes this announcement which will go some way to lifting the uncertainty over the future of these schools that has been hanging over pupils, parents and teachers for many years.
“The NASUWT particularly welcomes the assurance that there will be no compulsory redundancies of teaching staff and the commitments given by the Committee to work with the NASUWT in developing the transition plan for teachers.
“The Union urges the Committee to begin this work as a matter of urgency as many teachers, particularly those with management allowances or in leadership teams, will still face huge uncertainty regarding how their posts will transition to the new arrangements.”
Pictured: Deputy Paul Le Pelley.
The former President of ESC, has also welcomed the publication of the secondary schools plan - saying there are "no surprises" within it, but he still has some concerns, particularly where the affected children are concerned.
Deputy Le Pelley said he wanted to emphasise that "this isn’t sour grapes."
He said he and other States members, "are concerned for the youngsters in Guernsey.
“Big schools do work in the UK, but they are not the Guernsey thing. The well being of the children is what really concerns me.
“I dont want to be sniping all of the time, and Guernsey youngsters should not be involved in some sort of political game."
However, Deputy Le Pelley had to admit that the plans included the two school sites, St Sampson's and Les Beaucamps, that most people would agree are the most suitable for the adopted one school/two sites model.
“Those two school sites have been identified as the most ideal ones before by others, so it seems a reasonable step for them to take to announce them.
“But they have had months and months to come up with this. I am most interested in their costings. Then there is concern over things like schools potentially losing part of their playgrounds.
“There is no great detail in the plans. They are essentially asking for eight months to put together some of their facts and figures."
ESC has said it will come back to the States with costings for the planned works at the Les Beaucamps and St Sampson's sites by the middle of next year. The plans then will also include costings for the redevelopment of La Mare de Carteret Primary and the relocation of the College of Further Education, the Institute of Health and Social Care Studies and the GTA University Centre to one site.
Pictured: St Sampson's and Les Beaucamps High Schools, the sites of which will be used under the one school/two sites plan.
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