‘Future of the 11-plus must be looked at’
Tuesday 24th February 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
EDUCATION is split over the future of college funding.
Deputy minister Allister Langlois (pictured) has distanced himself from the stance of minister Carol Steere, who said that money which goes towards subsidising colleges could be better spent elsewhere.
‘My view simply is that we should not be spreading concern or alarm and despondency at this stage or any stage by saying the colleges are an easy target for some large-scale savings,’ he said,
The £4.5m. which is in place until 2012 is set for a scheduled review.
He added that the colleges may well have to face the reality, like the rest of the education service, that there were economies to be made, but to talk about the possible capping of the budget was not responsible.
‘For many years, this island has integrated a good public/private partnership with education that should continue.
‘To see it as an easy touch to find savings I would find unacceptable.’
The issue has yet to be been discussed by the board.
But the issue of the 11-plus exam must also come into the equation, he said.
‘If you expect the colleges to pick up students from the 11-plus option, there is some obligation to make sure those colleges remain viable. They are very much linked.’
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
What on earth is wrong with our education dept. For the past five years all they have done is create uncertainty for parents and pupils alike across the whole spectrum. First it was the 11 plus debate and the rebuilding of schools, then it wanted to go down the route of introducing student loans, then it wanted to close St Sampsons infants and St Andrews Schools, now it is back to the funding of the colleges and questioning the 11 plus system. Well, I am really fed up with it – no wonder everyone in Guernsey is becoming despondent. For goodness sake, education is extremely important whichever school is attended and all this does nothing for parents and pupils morale alike!
Report abuse
Surely you must know, that when amateurs take over, then they are ‘Jack of all trades and master of none’
I don’t believe there is even one member of our so called political ‘ahem’ bunch able and in fact hardly good enough to rule the masses.
We all know what happened to the tower of Babylon!!!
Report abuse
It’s amazing how many times this States say they are going to “look at” issues. It’s become a catch phrase for this house. It seems to be shorthand for “an expensive and time consuming report will be created and debated then we will vote to stick to the norm”.
It’s a good job we have Specsavers to help with those tired eyes.
Report abuse
we elected the clowns (no disrespect meant to Coco)so expect to see
Leaving age moved to 14 for single mums
Religous schools – complete ban
Closing Vale and Castel or other Juniors outside of Carole’s parish
Funding Special needs students…
in the press over the next year
The ringmaster needs to get his whip out
Report abuse
Without that funding many would never have had the opportunity to learn at the college’s. But no matter, a little elitism won’t do any harm now will it! After all, alongside huge house prices I’m sure most parents in the island can afford the extra school fees every month.
Report abuse
Agree completely mac!
The only thing that i dont like about the 11plus is that it disadvantages the all-rounder. To clarify, many kids are excellent at academic tests but may be weaker in other areas. I think they should take a more holistic approach to the selection criteria such as- artistic talent, language, music, socialisation, sport etc many of which are extra-curricular and would not come up in any “borderline” discussions but would definitely contribute to the overall success in secondary school of the child in the long-run.
If education were to change anything it should be that the test should not be used at the sole determinant in any case.
Report abuse
The States should simply face reality, 4.5 million is nothing compared to the cost of rehousing all those students in another school considering that they are already over subscribed. Maybe they should have thought a little a head and built a new school that was big enough to solve the current crisis let alone a bigger future one thats on the horizon. States members should focus on the needs and requirements of islanders. The colleges regardless of individual feelings remain the centres of excellence on the Island and offer life experience well beyond just an academic education. Anybody that has visited these colleges will know that they are not over lavished with equipment or outstanding conditions. Baubigny School equipment and conditions far exceed those of any College, if anything more money should be made available to Colleges. Reality is a harsh truth sometimes1
Report abuse
Had we rid ourselves of the outmoded 11-plus then, I believe, we would have needed one less secondary school and the consequent financial saving might have rendered unnecessary the financial wriggling that is going on.
Report abuse
Intakes to schools are falling year on year as we face an ageing population. My son is in a reception class of 14. So there really is not a huge problem with “oversubscription”.
And Martin – I completely disagree with your comment that the colleges offer “life experience well beyond just an academic education”. They do quite the reverse, encouraging students to look down at those not at the colleges, to socialise in exceptionally limited circles, and to remain within those “exclusive and elite” circles for the rest of their lives.
It’s about time that we stopped pandering to the priviliged few, and started expecting all children to excel at school – at present it is just a cop out to say that the “colleges do academia best”. Scrap the 11 plus, scrap college subsidies and start treating people as the equals they really are.
Report abuse
Martin your in cloud cookoo land. All our schools are centres of excellence after all they provide the best pupils via the 11 plus for the colleges.you need to be careful when comparing results of a levels and gcses because some schools enter all pupils and some don’t. However our politicians are, like you I suspect, so far to the right that the Colleges just might end up with more funding and the boys college might then have three playing fields.Baubigny school has good facilities agreed but this was part of the trade off during the 11plus debate which enabled the funding for colleges to continue via scolarships. Don’t worry nothing will change the old school tie brigade will see to that.
Report abuse
The 11 Plus is an absurdity on our small and wealthy island – we should be capable of providing excellent education for all our children, not creaming off a small top percentage to bolster the performance of the private Colleges, providing an (extremely good) alternative in the Grammar School, and shunting the rest into lower grade alternatives.
The subject will keep coming back for review, purely because it is such a ridiculous system.
Report abuse
A fantastic opportunity not to be missed.
This is post number 12 on this thread which means, at last, I’ve passed the 11+
Happy days!
Report abuse
From a pragmatic point of view it made a rough sort of sense in days gone by to have the 11+ and hive off those who might have some sort of academic/professional/managerial future. I’m thinking of the days here in Guernsey when we needed people to man the greenhouses and the tourist industry.
Nowadays everybody needs to be literate, numerate, and even computerate. We are now, as Belinda said above, equals – with differences that are best dealt with, in a pragmatic education system, by setting according to ability.
Education should not be about class elitism but it should be about maximising the potential of everybody both for their benefit and the benefit of the community.
Report abuse
You can pretty much tell the time warp some of the posters live in or politics are from. ‘elitist’, ‘class’, ‘scrapping the 11 plus’ ;)
In my experience, when you scratch the surface of those who dislike the Colleges you find, envy, academic failure and resentment.
Funny
Report abuse
I hope my boys make it to the Colleges. I just don’t want being held back by leftie teachers who preach the failed labour policies of ‘access’, ‘inclusion’ and ‘diversity’.
Report abuse
jackie
you are living on a different planet. if there are leftie teachers in guernsey i don’t know them. my son is a teacher here and what you are saying is a disgrace, shame on you. our education in secondry shools is streets ahead of the u.k. even the guernsey conservative party (the high parish deputies and old school tie brigade) don’t subsscribe to your views. this is my last post on this subject as until your post I think the debate had been really good.
Report abuse
“our education in secondry shools is streets ahead of the u.k”
Really? Is that why there are so many remedial students filling the CFE, and hogging so much of the staff resources?
“Jackie for Education Minister” I say.
Report abuse
Kevin, I should have been clearer, it was more a criticism of our UK influenced system. And you are right Guernsey children are generally well rounded and do well despite that negative and politicised born of the left system.
aND THERE are leftie teachers here – most of them have beards ;)
Report abuse
Jackie – as a professional member of the facial haired community I take offence at your discrination. My political leanings, whatever they may be, are in no way connected with my beard ;-)
Report abuse
Jackie has a simple and verifiable solution to all our education problems: shave all the teachers and thereby eliminate any who might be ‘lefties’.
Well, it’s worth trying isn’t it?
Report abuse
P.S. May I declare my affiliation?
I used to be a leftie with a beard; previously I was a rightie with a beard; now I am liberal, without a beard.
All clear?
Report abuse
There are the clues to leftie teachers; corduroy brown jackets with patches.
You can run, you can try and hide, but, like the child catcher or a latter day McCarthy, we will find you!
Report abuse
Thanks Jackie – I’m OK then. Although I have a beard, I do not (and never have) wear corduroy brown jackets with patches! :-)
Report abuse