BRINGING teaching facilities at Ladies’ College up to modern educational standards will cost at least £11m. But rising building costs mean the total expenditure is going up all the time and the new-look government will shortly have to face up to the problem of how to fund the independent schools.

Education minister Martin Ozanne confirmed that his new department intended to take a policy letter to the House soon.

‘We are looking to go to the States before the end of the year, if not sooner, with various proposals on funding arrangements for all of the independent schools and improved facilities for Ladies’ College included,’ he said.

‘We know they need new facilities – the question is how much should be at the expense of the taxpayer and how much on the college now that it has an increased number of fee-payers?

‘We have pledged that we must ensure all of the independent schools remain viable and contribute to the excellent standards of education that the island enjoys,’ said Deputy Ozanne.

Deputy Bill Bell, the chairman of the Ladies’ College Board of Governors, said that the last estimate indicated that it would cost £11m. to bring the buildings up to standard.

‘Funding must come from the landlord, which is the States, but how that funding should be provided has been a matter of discussion between the board of governors and the Education Council for a considerable time,’ he said.

‘There has been no capital funding for development of the college since the buildings were put up in the early 60s,’ he said.

Nearly half of the teaching space at the college in September will be in the form of temporary huts.

This is ‘a totally unacceptable situation’ which the board of governors has been attempting to rectify, said Deputy Bell.

‘The immediate task that the board of governors has to address is the desperate need for modern facilities so we can ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to develop their full potential,’ he said.

‘With the support of the former Education Council, we have progressively moved to a three-form entry. To accommodate this expansion, temporary huts have been required.

‘For the September term a further temporary hut will be needed for the expanding sixth form. This will mean almost 50% of our teaching space will be in temporary huts,’ said Deputy Bell.

The board and the States have a duty to provide buildings which are fit for the purpose, he said.

‘Despite this deficiency the college has produced outstanding results, particularly over the last two years, with a 100% pass rate at A-level.’

Deputy Bell did not believe a new college would have to be built,

just extensions to the current facilities.

When the States last discussed the independent schools, there was a change to the funding arrangements.

It resolved that after a three-year period the Education Council would report back on the viability of the colleges and that a review of facilities at Ladies’ College would be undertaken and a business plan prepared, said Deputy Ozanne.

He believed Education would have sight of that plan shortly.

The new three-form entry, which Education backs, means there are more fee-payers at Ladies’ College.

‘I and my fellow governors are proud to be associated with the Ladies’ College, which is regarded as the most successful educational establishment in the Channel Islands,’ said Deputy Bell.

The college has an outstanding principal and a staff of dedicated teachers, he added.