Government aims to improve school attendance

Work has started on building a new campus for the over-16s

Education bosses in Guernsey want to see improvements in school attendance to pre-pandemic levels and better results in maths.

The government said challenges also included "embedding" the use of digital technology to enhance learning.

The targets follow the committee for education, sport and culture's publication of its 2024 education strategy report which celebrated a "significant rise" in literacy levels and good ratings for schools inspected by Ofsted.

The first group of teachers have also graduated from a new on-island teacher training programme and have started their careers in Guernsey.

The government said it had spent £83.2m on education in the year to December 2023.

It said school attendance had improved to 94% in primary schools, 86% in secondaries and at special schools, but was still below pre-Covid 19 levels.

Achievement in maths had dropped from 2022-23 when 57% of pupils gained a grade 4 or above in maths at GCSE to 52% last summer.

Director of education Nick Hynes said: "Delivering positive outcomes for all learners will help them to meet their aspirations and importantly also help to secure future success as island communities."

He said: "Education is a shared responsibility and by working together, we are working to secure a bright future for all children, young people and learners."

The strategy includes commitments for inclusivity, meeting community needs, and providing high quality learning and results.

Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, president of the committee for education, sport and culture, said highlights last year included the start of building work at Les Ozouets campus for the other-16s.