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Secondary school plans released

Secondary school plans released

Friday 05 July 2019

Secondary school plans released

Friday 05 July 2019


Details of the new plan for secondary schooling in Guernsey have been released, including a suggested extension of the school day and what could become of the former Grammar School.

Plans for the one-school over two colleges, as well as the post-16 college at Les Ozouets are all to be debated by the States in September have been included in the 132 page document.

It is thought that the cost of the project to consolidate the current 11-18 school offering into one college with two school sites and a separate post-16 offering at Les Ouzuets will come in at around £157 million. 

The States voted to stop selection in education before and after the 2016 election with a marginal win each time. This ultimately will lead to the closure of the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre at Les Varendes with plans to extend the current schools at Les Beaucamps and Baubigny  for all the island's non-fee paying students. 

The delayed plans now available on the States website detail forecasted costs and suggestions about how the school day may change for students and parents as well as examples given for different hypothetical student's pathways. 

Schools graph

Pictured: The movements given for current students. 

Page 50 of the report details the proposals for longer school days: 

"An extension of the school day to 16:05 three days per week with optional activities on one or both the remaining two days. This would:

  • Ensure all students take part in a range of high quality enrichment activities and additional option subjects without restrictions resulting from transport requirements;
  • Recognise the high-quality provision already in place as part ofa teacher’s allocated contact time, reducing teacher workloadand making the distribution of contact time fairer for staff;
  • Accommodate activities currently provided at lunch times
  • Use teaching staff effectively to maximise impact on students."

The report also says the States will be asked to consider the preferred use for the site at Les Varendes following the Grammar school's closure: 

"Board wishes to include in such investigations, accommodating in the future a range of health, care and community services, commissions and other bodies which provide services on behalf of the States."

Grammar School

Pictured: The Grammar School at Les Varendes. 

The policy letter also details a forecasted £100 million of savings over a 50 year period operating with the future model compared to the previous arrangements. Development of the new schools will begin with preparation work across the sites in spring 2020. 

Teachers at all of the current secondary schools and Grammar School have been reassured in the letter that there will be positions made available for them within the new college. 

The policy letter and associated documents can be read here.

Further stories on the policy letter will follow on Express



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