Education member fears long sixth form stay at La Mare

Tuesday 23 January 2024

A long-standing critic of Educations post-16 reorganisation plans has found himself unable to support the renewed attempt to fund the project, despite “desperately” wanting construction for the Guernsey Institute to proceed.

Deputy Andy Cameron, a member of Education, Sport & Culture, has been historically opposed to the Committee’s plans to combine a standalone sixth form centre with other tertiary studies at Les Ozouets.

The post-16 project has hit several delays and was effectively defunded for months after the States decided to prioritise other capital projects this term.

But a new amendment from Policy & Resources published today seeks to get the project going in a phased approach this term, using additional cash forecasted to be raised from taxing profits of major global corporations.

But Deputy Cameron told Express he is unable to support it due to concerns that splitting out the sixth form centre from the first phase of building programme would leave sixth formers stuck in the “deteriorating La Mare De Carteret building”, possibly until the next decade.

He is sticking to his argument that Les Varendes, the former Grammar School, should be upgraded to accommodate the sixth form centre permanently instead, creating an 11-18 school.

“I’m uneasy about imposing financial responsibility on Education next term to relocate the sixth form from the deteriorating La Mare structures, most likely relocating to the planned building at Les Ozouets – even if it is proven over the next four-plus years that a standalone sixth form performs poorly compared to the current centre integrated into an 11-18 school,” Deputy Cameron said.

Other deputies spoken to by Express indicated support for the fresh plans, however.

les ozouets

Pictured: The States could this week shave off the sixth form and sporting facilities from a phase of the Les Ozouets build, with sports to be catered for a Beau Sejour instead.

Education plans to temporarily use the High School as a sixth form centre after its schedule for purpose-built facilities experienced delays due to the builder going bust and the States withdrawing funding support over the past two years. All secondary school students are planned to vacate the site by September 2025, when it was expected it could then be repurposed or sold.

“It was advised by Peter Marsh Consultants that the building should not be used for longer than two years, foreseeing significant maintenance costs beyond that point,” Deputy Cameron said.

“As an example, the Delancey Park buildings were intended to be used as a temporary home for the CFE for a couple of years, yet they are now in their 14th year on site.

“I still believe that it is possible to expand [Les Varendes] to accommodate the temporary peak in student numbers, and that investing money in a building that we intend to retain is obviously a more cost-effective solution than throwing money at a building slated for demolition.”

He thinks there are “significant issues” with transporting pupils and teachers between La Mare and other sites.

The amendment, proposed by Deputies Lyndon Trott and Heidi Soulsby, proposes building the Guernsey Institute first from this summer, while pausing the sixth form centre and indoor and outdoor sports facilities pending a further funding decision next term.

Deputy Cameron, who leads on sport inside ESC, said while it was disappointing the sports elements have been phased out “I think most knew that the sports facilities would be the first to go if the project was scaled down”.

But he added that there could be “positive outcomes” for other sport facilities such as improved access at Beau Sejour and upgrades to Footes Lane for post-16 students.

Deputy Charles Parkinson

Pictured: Deputy Charles Parkinson thinks there's merit in continuing with the entire project due to an upgraded short term financial position.

Meanwhile, Deputy Charles Parkinson said he would back the amendment, saying the recent upgraded forecast for the total tax take expected from large corporations from 2026 “proves I was right”.

When running for Policy & Resources President in December he said Treasury had significantly underestimated the amount of cash that would be raised through global corporate tax reforms. Revised estimates have now tripled the amount expected to be raised allowing borrowing for Les Ozouets to be repaid.

“It’s what I would’ve done if elected, I basically said that’s where I would’ve got the money from... I'm glad to see so many converts to corporate tax reform,” he told Express, adding that he expects much more money to be raised still than what’s being predicted.

On the amendment he questioned whether the sixth form centre should proceed at the same time given the improved financial position, pointing to changes in the UK for introducing T-levels by 2030:

“Events have moved in Education’s direction – it implies the bringing together of vocational training... bright children should be encouraged to achieve their potential. We can’t ignore what’s happening in the UK and that does reinforce the case for the sixth form centre alongside theInstitute,” he said.

Deputy Victoria Oliver views the amendment as a “positive way forward” saying it was lucky additional cash had been found and favoured laying the foundations for the sixth form now, which is one of the options being presented to deputies.

“We need to get on and do something as the only people it’s affecting are students and teachers,” she said. “Option 2 [not laying the foundations for the sixth form] will end up costing a lot more than people think with having to move builders off and back onto the site."

“I really hope the States can get behind this. We need to be more unified and this has dragged on and on now. If we don’t sort it out it will be 12-years of limbo for education and that's not healthy for morale.”

Debate is likely to start on the amendment tomorrow.