Two-school model “consigned to history”

Saturday 27 March 2021

Attempts to get the review of future education models published have been thrown out by the States' Assembly following six hours of debate.

Education, Sport & Culture called it a back door to the two-school model, while others in the Chamber criticised ESC for attempting to "cloud people's judgement" over the unsuccessful amendment, which asked for like-for-like comparisons of the models named in last year's 'pause and review' requete.

Deputies Tina Bury and Adrian Gabriel laid the amendment before the assembly during debate on the Government Work Plan. It would have adjusted existing resolutions and required ESC to publish all its working before the committee lays its Education Policy Letter on 10 May. That is expected to propose a three 11-16 school model with a single Sixth Form co-located with the Guernsey Institute at Les Ozouets. 

“The motivation behind this amendment, is quite simply, transparency, good governance, informed decision-making and choosing a decision-making process that will prevent further delay,” said Deputy Bury.

Pictured: The ESC committee have claimed the amendment was designed to “drag them backwards” to the two-school model.

The amendment was supported by a number of States members, including Deputy Steve Falla who said it was a “no-brainer”.

An argument was made that the amendment would force ESC to use the two school model as a benchmark, which would be “ludicrous” in the words of Deputy Bob Murray, since the two-school model doesn’t exist.

Deputy Sasha Kasantseva-Miller argued that all the models are fictional and the new model “doesn’t exist either” so the argument shouldn’t hold any weight.

Deputy Gavin St Pier supported the amendment, arguing that there hasn’t been any extensive consultation with the profession about ESC’s plans and that a suggested two-year delay caused by the amendment is wrong.

“If the pause and review process is 70% of the way through, how could it possibly cause the suggested two-year delay – it does not compute.”

Pictured: The amendment concluded that all States Deputies need to be given the chance to make an informed decision on the future of education.

ESC Vice-President, Deputy Bob Murray vehemently opposed the amendment in his maiden speech:

“Let me turn to the nonsense of maintaining a comparison with this theoretical education experiment as a benchmark – this is a defunct model as expressed by 24 members of this assembly in their manifestos. I ask members of this assembly to vote against this amendment.”

The amendment was slammed by the ESC President during her rebuttal against it.

“Our committee’s Policy Letter on the future of Education is being drafted and is comprehensive and takes all pre-existing information into account, ” said Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen. 

Deputy Dudley Owen was followed by a number of rebuttals against the amendment, including Deputy Meerveld who dismissed the pause & review attempt.

“In my opinion it was designed to constrain, bias and undermine the review to pre-determine an outcome in favour of two schools.

“The two-school model has never existed and cannot be used as a benchmark,” he said.

Pictured: “Do not let this process get delayed again,” pleaded Deputy Dudley Owen.

Deputy Sam Haskins spoke extensively on the amendment and his opinion that it would simply delay the future of education again.

He asked that the chamber trust his committee - ESC. “We have used and continue to use work that has already been done – we will highlight the issues and the shortcomings with it,” he said.

The Vice-President of P&R, Deputy Heidi Soulsby, started drawing the debate to a close by expressing her frustration at the education saga, the need for the assembly to own the GWP and, by extension, any plans for education.

“Taking a purist point of view, these amendments go beyond the proposition. We don’t have an over-arching view on this, it’s up to the assembly. 

“Personally – I am mad as hell and I can’t take it anymore. I’ve had enough. It’s absolutely ridiculous!”

There was a recorded vote on Amendment 2. The amendment was lost:

LOST:
Pour: 15
Contre: 24
Abstain: 1 pic.twitter.com/OqgibJ4tvw

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) March 26, 2021

Pictured: The amendment was voted out with one abstention.

In her summing up, Deputy Bury repeated her stance on transparency and trust.

“We all want the same destination but we disagree on the way to get there. Voting on this amendment will honour a commitment made to the public and the professionals and will make sure we don’t find ourselves in a void. Without it I do not feel the arguments will go away. Surely this amendment brings us the best of both worlds.”

The amendment was lost and ESC will bring its vision to the States on 10 May for further debate on the future of education in Guernsey.