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Last 11+, as Education Services seeks to reassure parents over future plans

Last 11+, as Education Services seeks to reassure parents over future plans

Tuesday 23 January 2018

Last 11+, as Education Services seeks to reassure parents over future plans

Tuesday 23 January 2018


The last pupils to sit the 11+ have done so, with the selection test now consigned to history.

The landmark moment comes almost two years after the States of Guernsey voted to scrap selection at age 11, and to instead adopt an all ability system of secondary education.

What will replace the 11+ has been the subject of fierce debate again this month, with the States only agreeing last week to create one secondary school for 11-18 year olds over two sites.

It's not yet known when those two facilities will be open or where in the island they will be. Four of the five members of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture have said they'll resign over that decision leaving the States' second biggest spending committee without a political board at a critical time.

It's likely at least some of the so called 'gang of four' who took the alternative proposals for secondary education to the States and successfully won support for their two-school model will fill the vacant seats on ESC to see their plans come to fruition.

Gang of Four pop art Pictured, clockwise from top right: Deputies Richard Graham, Rhian Tooley, Mark Dorey, Matt Fallaize

In the meantime, parents of pupils at Guernsey's primary schools have all been sent a letter by Education Services saying: "we understand that you may be feeling unsure over what the States agreed and what this means for you and your family.

"Please be assured your childs learning and wellbeing remains the most important thing for all of us working in school and across Education Services".

The letter explains that a new committee will be elected early February to lead the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture and that in the meantime staff are unable to provide any definitive answers on what happens next "until the new committee is in place and further planning has been completed".

Current Year 6 pupils will not be affected by the decision to go for a two school model of secondary education and they sat the second part of their 11+ today. They will continue to be allocated places at secondary school through the selection process with parents due to be advised of their child’s secondary school place as scheduled on Monday 26 March.

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Pictured: The letter sent to all parents of primary school pupils 

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