A second public meeting discussing the official proposals for the future of secondary education has also been received with criticism.
The meeting, at Beau Sejour last night, was attended by around 150 people who had gathered to hear more on the proposed three-school model which could be adopted following a States debate this week.
The official proposals have been put forward by the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture, which was directed to come up with an all ability system of secondary education, across three schools, following the decision by the States of Guernsey to remove selection at age 11.
That is going to happen this year, with the final cohort of children sitting their 11+ at Guernsey's primary schools this month. The States still need to decide what system of secondary education will replace that from September 2018 onwards.
ESC wants to have three 11-16 schools, based at Les Beaucamp's and St Sampson's High schools with a new school built on the La Mare de Carteret site to replace that school and the current Grammar School. The committee has also lodged amendments against it's own proposals for post 16 education following feedback from lecturers and senior staff at the College of Further Education.
You can read the proposals and the amendments here.
The official ESC proposals will face their strongest challenge from the so-called 'gang of four' deputies, who are proposing a two-school model for 11-18 year olds. You can read those proposals here.
Both sets of proposals were discussed at public meetings, which were live streamed on the States of Guernsey's Facebook page, with thousands of people watching both.
The feedback to both proposals has been mixed. Some parents have said they aren't happy with either while some teachers have commented publicly on social media saying they have lost confidence in the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture which is meant to be setting the policy.
Emma Beardsell said: "Teachers have become worn down and have lost confidence in the committee, so of course we embrace a clearly articulated, well researched model which does not rely on fear mongering to sell its worth". Disagreeing, Don Campbell said: "The 3 model has obviously been put together professionally by people who know what they are doing within the remit of the brief they were given . The other seems to be designed purely to delay".
With less than a day until the debate gets underway questions are still being asked about which model will offer the best educational outcomes. Lisa Vahey said: "It's all very well knowing what building they'll move to...but what about their actual education? What educational improvements will be made in the 3 school model?"
Oliver Bailey-Davies said: "This is a vote about people, students - staff - parents. Not about bricks and mortar or speed of delivery. Our schools are cracking up, physically and emotionally deputies need to get this right".
The full live stream of both meetings are available on the States Facebook page.
The States meeting is due to get underway on Wednesday 17 January with the secondary schools debate high on the agenda.
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