The Guernsey Fencing Academy at Elizabeth College was set up in 2010, and has since seen the school employ a full time fencing coach, and offer the sport to its students.
Jenny Palmer, EC’s Principal, said the changes would see Guernsey’s approach to fencing as a whole become more coordinated, but that the club would be separated from the school in the process.
“With the oversight of the Guernsey Union D’Escrime, the Guernsey Fencing Academy at Elizabeth College will separate from Elizabeth College. Students at Elizabeth College will still be able to fence and will receive coaching,” she said.
Chris Buxton, the PE teacher who was employed as the Head Fencing Coach, finished last week, at the end of the half term, and has returned to the UK.
Mrs Palmer continued: “Changes are being made to ensure that there is a joined up and coordinated approach to Fencing across Guernsey and for all of Guernsey’s students, not just those at Elizabeth College. For Elizabeth College this will mean that fencing is brought more into line with our other sports provision. Elizabeth College is proud of our exceptionally wide choice of sporting and extra-curricular activities on offer to all of our students. Our inclusive approach encompasses both recreational and competitive participation to enable every student to find the right sport(s) for them.
“Our sports approach in recent years has been to broaden both the choice of sports on offer and the level of participation to encourage all students to develop a lifelong love of sports and physical activity.”
Pictured top: Elizabeth College and a file image of fencers.