What will replace the 11+ has been the subject of fierce debate again this month, with the States only agreeing last week to create one secondary school for 11-18 year olds over two sites.
It’s not yet known when those two facilities will be open or where in the island they will be. Four of the five members of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture have said they’ll resign over that decision leaving the States’ second biggest spending committee without a political board at a critical time.
It’s likely at least some of the so called ‘gang of four’ who took the alternative proposals for secondary education to the States and successfully won support for their two-school model will fill the vacant seats on ESC to see their plans come to fruition.
In the meantime, parents of pupils at Guernsey’s primary schools have all been sent a letter by Education Services saying: “we understand that you may be feeling unsure over what the States agreed and what this means for you and your family.
“Please be assured your child’s learning and wellbeing remains the most important thing for all of us working in school and across Education Services”.
The letter explains that a new committee will be elected early February to lead the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture and that in the meantime staff are unable to provide any definitive answers on what happens next “until the new committee is in place and further planning has been completed”.
Current Year 6 pupils will not be affected by the decision to go for a two school model of secondary education and they sat the second part of their 11+ today. They will continue to be allocated places at secondary school through the selection process with parents due to be advised of their child’s secondary school place as scheduled on Monday 26 March.
Pictured: The letter sent to all parents of primary school pupils