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Sark is receiving a positive response to calls for Guernsey families to host secondary school students.
But the island's Education Committee says "more applicants are needed" for its term time hosting scheme so that Sark children between 13 and 16 can study in Guernsey from September.
Express reported last month on the urgent need for Sark to find families in Guernsey for around seven students who have secured places at schools in Guernsey but did not have accommodation lined up less than four months before the school year starts.
Sark's government - Chief Pleas - says that "thanks to support from local media" it has since received offers and enquiries from families in Guernsey.
"We'd like to thank those who have already sent messages of support or enquired about hosting. There is a strong community sentiment surrounding the [hosting] programme, which we are incredibly grateful for," said Sark's Education Committee.
Pictured: Some offers have been received to host children from Sark but more are needed to secure places for all the children who hope to study in Guernsey from September.
"We are still looking for more Guernsey households to host our students for the upcoming school year.
"We’ve had an especially positive sense of community over the past couple of years in the Bailiwick. We have banded together through an incredibly difficult time and we need to continue the Guernsey Together spirit across the Bailiwick to support the islands’ young people."
Sark's term time hosting scheme pairs Sark students in school years nine, 10 and 11 with host families in Guernsey while they complete their compulsory secondary education. The student lives with their host during term time, returning to Sark for school holidays and at weekends.
"A host's role is incredibly meaningful as they support a student’s personal development and the next stage in their education," said Sark's Education Committee.
"It’s a big commitment to open your home to someone new, but we know many of our previous hosts have created life-long relationships with the student, their families and Sark."
Pictured: Sark School educates children to the end of year eight before they transfer to Guernsey or elsewhere.
Hosts are required to provide a range of support, including:
Potential hosts undergo assessment by professionals working for Guernsey's Committee for Health & Social Care. Once approved, they meet the student and the student's parents before welcoming the student into their home.
Hosts receive £25.40 per night while the student is staying with them.
Anyone interested in applying for the scheme for the school year which starts in September can email termtimehost@sarkgov.co.uk or find more information and sign-up by clicking HERE.
Pictured: There is an agreement in place between Chief Pleas and the States of Guernsey which allows Sark to buy places at Les Beaucamps High School in years nine, 10 and 11.
A review carried out in 2017 recommended that Sark should provide only the first two years of secondary education on the island - years seven and eight.
Subsequently, a deal was struck with the States' Committee for Education, Sport and Culture for children from Sark to be offered places at Les Beaucamps High School in years nine, 10 and 11.
It is understood that three schools in Guernsey are expecting to welcome new students from Sark in September: Les Beaucamps High School, Blanchelande College and Elizabeth College.
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