Bid to delay new school governance boards defeated

Deputy Haley Camp proposed a sursis motive, or a delaying motion

A proposal to delay the introduction of new governance boards for schools in the Bailiwick of Guernsey has been defeated.

A sursis, or delaying motion, proposed by Deputy Haley Camp received seven votes from deputies, while 27 votes were against with one abstention.

It means a new special committee will be created to look at how much power these new governance boards should receive.

Committee for Education, Sport and Culture president Paul Montague said the new boards would help "improve educational outcomes for all our young people."

During the debate, Camp stated the new boards would be neither "real nor good".

"It is bad practice, mired by complexity and deliberate delay.

"It is my view that proposals knowingly create three fatal flaws. First, no clarity of mandate. Second, reliance on political trust. Third, overreach of powers."

In supporting the proposals to create the new boards, Montague said: "Schools should be led by empowered leaders, supported and challenged by effective governance boards.

"The journey ahead is not simple. It cannot be a simple big bang. Change must be iterative, deliberate, sustained and flexible and it needs to start now."