‘AT THE moment people are selected through the 11-plus system on ability. How much fairer can you get than that?’

To his credit, the chairman of the Ladies’ College board of governors at least acknowledges with that statement the elephant that will sit in the corner of the States debating chamber this week.

For no debate about college funding, whatever the Policy Council says, can ignore the divisive issue of the 11-plus.

At its heart this debate is not really about shaving £1.1m. off the States bill for the colleges, it is about private versus public education.

And, for the record, Deputy Gillson should – and probably does – know that there are many unfair elements to the 11-plus.

Some junior schools do much better than others at getting pupils through the exam.

Some families have the money to pay for extra tuition, others do not.

And some parents go private until the last minute then switch to the public sector just in time.

But, like the issue of college funding itself, just because the system is not perfect does not mean the island would be better off without it.

The colleges have been an integral part of island education for years – funding statutes for Elizabeth College started in 1826 and special places were created at Ladies’ College more than a century ago.

Ironically, unlike the States schools, the education achievements of the private schools are a matter of public record. The three colleges regularly boast 100% pass rates for the minimum five GCSEs and they and the Grammar School keep Education’s overall average respectable.

To place such excellence at risk could be considered foolhardy. The colleges may have signed up to the plan but it is clear that this could push them to the brink of what is possible.

If that is the case and one or all of the colleges struggles to survive it would be foolish for private education critics to crow too loudly.

That £1.1m. saving will seem like chickenfeed if yet another high school has to be built or a college nationalised.