The States would need to change the rules governing The Ladies College before it can receive a gift that could potentially save taxpayers £2.2m a year.
Elizabeth College and The Ladies’ College say they would give up their States grant funding to accept a multi-million pound gift from an anonymous philanthropist.
Elizabeth College is already a registered charity and can accept its share of the gift, but The Ladies’ College is in a different position.
A law dating back to 1962 governs how the school is run. That would need to be changed before it can accept the money and spend it how it chooses.
Daniele Harford-Fox, Principal at The Ladies’ College, said this would include new educational hubs and events for pupils and others.
“This is a once-in-a-generation gift which would allow us to do even more for Guernsey,” she said.
We hope this will help islanders equip for the future
daniele harford-fox
“For example, working with partners, The Ladies’ College hopes to build an AI and Innovation Hub that could be a centre for research, workshops and events for everyone in the community.”
Jenny Palmer, Principal at Elizabeth College, said: “Our two Colleges have worked in partnership for many years, and we share a simple ambition, which is to provide young people in Guernsey with the best, well-rounded education we can.
“This gift would also enable us to look at how we can further develop partnerships to extend and share opportunities, as well as securing the future of both Colleges for generations to come.”
The Ladies’ College and Elizabeth College, along with Blanchelande College, currently share around £3m in States funding each year.
The grants are due to be phased out but deputies haven’t yet agreed when this will happen and how.
Deputy Paul Montague, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said he only found out about the gift offered to Ladies and Elizabeth colleges “very recently”, “so we have not had an opportunity to look at this in detail and examine all the implications”.
He said: “Anything that allows Elizabeth College and The Ladies’ College to operate successfully without any taxpayer funding is clearly to be welcomed.
A change like this would ultimately require States approval
deputy paul montague
“There is now much work to be done to progress this further, which we will now do in collaboration with the two colleges.”
The Colleges said the philanthropic endowment could replace the States funding in full and keep fees at both schools affordable for current and prospective parents.
The gift to Ladies and Elizabeth colleges would also offer opportunities to fund a bursary programme and support a new island-wide Legacy Programme, they said.
The money is coming from a philanthropic donor who wishes to remain anonymous.
