Alternative college funding proposals now on the table still risk destabilising education on the island with long-term repercussions for Guernsey, deputies have been warned.
Education, Sport & Culture wants to phase out the funding of Elizabeth, Blanchelande, and Ladies’ College, which is currently around £3m. annually, while the colleges have laid out a proposal to keep it in place until 2040 with closer partnership working with the States sector.
Three other options are now also in play when the States debates the issue next week.
A compromise led by Deputy Roffey if successful would reduce the level of the grant paid to the Colleges by 4% per annum over a seven year period, so that by the end of that the grant will stand at 75.1% of the current level – an estimated £2.54m. if pupil numbers remain stable.
Deputy Neil Inder’s amendment, would cap funding at current levels but eliminate inflation based increases, therefore reducing it in real terms over time so it would stand at a predicted £2.210m in 2045
“While the Colleges acknowledge Deputy Roffey’s and Deputy Inder’s intention to avoid both funding propositions put forward in the Policy Letter being rejected by the States, we would like to make it clear that these alternative proposals which reduce the grant to the Colleges will result in children moving into the state education sector, which will cost taxpayers more, and will have a destabilising effect on the island’s whole educational landscape, with long-term repercussions for Guernsey,” the Colleges said.
“Also, more pupils mean more teachers. Class sizes can be increased but this is constrained by available teachers, a critical point considering the challenges faced by States schools to attract and retain teachers.”
There are indications that ESC is already experiencing an increase in pupil / teacher ratios in the States’ secondary sector.
“Recently, Guernsey’s local representative for the National Education Union, Paul Montague, highlighted that recruiting and retaining teachers in Guernsey was a challenge due to the lack of available housing and the cost of living. It was reported that this has a negative impact on student attainment and provides further evidence that disrupting the current distribution of pupils will have a negative impact on all schools in Guernsey.”
They said that the business community has expressed support for funding to continue in order to help ensure the island’s competitiveness.
“We maintain that educating c. 30% of the island’s secondary school children for around 3% of the estimated total Education budget provides excellent value for money, and the Colleges’ strong educational outcomes evidence a good return on the investment for the Bailiwick’s taxpayers. We also believe that the value the Colleges provide means more money can be spent in the States sector.”
The third alternative is being brought by Deputy Gavin St Pier.
It would maintain funding on a five year rolling basis, but capped at current levels and based on a per pupil basis. That would mean if numbers fell, the proportion of total income does not rise.
“While the amendment proposed by Deputy St Pier does mean that the Colleges will receive less funding if the pupil numbers in the independent sector reduce, it does give the Colleges some stability by proposing a rolling funding agreement and continuance of the current grant,” they said.
“The Colleges have remained fully committed to exploring potential ways we might build authentic and powerful collaboration between the independent and state sectors, enabling school communities to support and learn from each other at a school-to-school level.
“The Colleges are steadfast in our belief that funding the independent sector is based on sound financial management and value for money, and is critical to maintaining stability in a time of change and economic challenge.
“We look forward to discussing the proposed amendments, and we continue to urge deputies to think long term and to consider the impact their decision will have on the island’s children and our wider community.”