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The search for a new contractor to build the post-16 education campus at Les Ozouets is still ongoing, and we've been told there won't be any more information available before March due to commercial confidentiality as the details are thrashed out.
Education yesterday confirmed that construction firms “of the required size and experience” have been engaged locally, in Jersey, and in the UK to find a way forward for the twice delayed project.
The Committee says it now expects to present a plan for a new contractor “in early to mid-March; subject to the completion of exploratory work and further engagement with the Policy & Resources Committee”.
It said the campus “continues to be a game-changer for the delivery of post-16 and adult learning for our community”.
The previously announced plan to transfer sixth form studies to the La Mare High School site in lieu of the Les Ozouets campus was not mentioned in Education’s update.
Pictured: Secondary teachers are beginning the process of implementing a new staffing structure based on the new schooling model this week.
As well as updating everyone on the post-16 campus build, Education laid out other areas of progress which risk going unappreciated due to the political and public focus on buildings, with President Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen labelling it “an increasingly depressed and catastrophised narrative”.
A new staffing structure across secondary schools is hoped to improve educational outcomes and teaching consistency across all schools as students prepare to enter post-16 studies or their professional lives.
The umbrella executive team have designed the structure with the input of national and local union representatives throughout. New roles have been created to ease the administrative burden on teachers and to provide extra pastoral support for students.
Staff should have certainty over their future roles within the system once fully implemented after years of uncertainty, with the process in secondary schools beginning this week.
The creation of a new 11-16 school at Les Varendes is underway with a shared culture and identity being developed to assimilate La Mare High School and Grammar together.
“In recent months, senior staff have been reviewing options on how best to deliver improvements on this site and will be creating a student and staff-led ‘new school design team’ to help develop this work further,” Education said.
Pictured: The Guernsey Grammar School will need a new identity once the final selective cohort completes studies this summer, and La Mare students are moved across.
The process of integrating the College of Further Education, GTA University Centre, and Health studies under The Guernsey Institute umbrella has been progressed but services continue to be delivered from outdated buildings.
“Its much-needed permanent home at the rebuilt Les Ozouets campus will further support efforts to develop its offering for the community,” the Committee said.
A single leadership team is now in place to allow cross-organisation working before The Institute settles permanently at its new home.
Investment in digital infrastructure has also been identified to upgrade and improve access to modern IT for students and staff.
Work began in 2022 to upgrade networks and connectivity which should be completed by the end of 2023.
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