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Education amendment to add space at schools

Education amendment to add space at schools

Monday 17 February 2020

Education amendment to add space at schools

Monday 17 February 2020


Extra space can be added to sixth forms and recreational areas at the two new colleges, if the States are willing to fund it, say Education bosses.

Education, Sport & Culture is submitting an amendment to the requete to "pause and review" the committee's plans to transform secondary and post-16 education.

If approved, the amendment will set up a debate early in the next States term about whether further space should be added at the 11-18 colleges.

It is a bid to address staff concerns that there is a lack of space, especially in the sixth form and recreational areas, at the two 1,400-capacity school buildings.

However, the creation of further space would have to be funded by the States above and beyond the £157m. already allocated to the transformation programme. 

"The Committee has always been open to adding further space if the States are prepared to fund it," said Committee President Matt Fallaize. "A further review of space set out in a policy letter will allow the Committee to recommend how additional space could be utilised and the next States will have the final say.

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Pictured: Deputy Matt Fallaize said the amendment will "also focus on the day-to-day operation of Lisia School and its two colleges – including arrangements for lunch, enrichment activities and the future staff structure."

"The Committee will be directed to pay particular attention to space for sixth forms and recreation and one or two other elements raised by staff in schools. If the States are prepared to invest more in education, of course we will welcome that, and it is certainly true that it would be better to spend money adding space to our new colleges than to throw away millions of pounds endlessly reviewing other models of education previously rejected, which is what the requete proposes to do."

Deputy Fallaize said the Committee itself "remains confident" in the space standards it is planning for the two new colleges, but notes the concerns of others who would like the option to increase space.

Information shared previously has shown that Education's planned indoor space is above UK standards, while outdoor space falls short. 

The amendment would not affect Education's timeline as the new colleges will not have sixth form students for another two years. 

The same cannot be said for the requerants' "destructive" amendment. 

"The requete proposes stopping two years into a five- or six-year transition period. Doing so would waste millions of pounds already spent, waste millions more revisiting models previously rejected and leave students stuck in the current model with all its disadvantages and with no idea where they will be at school from next year onwards.

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Pictured: Deputies Andrea Dudley-Owen, Rob Prow and Carl Meerveld are leading the requete to "pause and review". 

"It is a destructive requete because it proposes no new ideas and no solutions. Our amendment tries to respond constructively to concerns raised while maintaining progress on the reforms now under way and prevents taking the States back to the drawing board five years after this debate started."

Education Vice-President Richard Graham said the amendment was the responsible way to address concerns.

"The educational case for the current reforms remains as strong as ever. They represent our desire for excellent educational outcomes, equality of opportunity and facilities of a high standard in every school or college and making the best use of the funds the States are prepared to invest," he said.

"It is simply not acceptable to prolong any longer than absolutely necessary the current system where too many students do not enjoy an educational experience than aligns with these key principles. However, we have listened to the concerns from the profession and members of the public about space for students in the colleges. These concerns are best addressed through further discussions with professionals and inviting the States to add to the space standards if they believe the case for doing so is well made."

The final wording of the Amendment will be submitted imminently.

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