Adam Durbin
BBC News Online

Deputies are preparing to decide whether to approve the biggest shake-up to the education system in Guernsey in recent memory.

The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture want permission from politicians to proceed with their 'one school on two sites' proposal.

Early indications suggest they'll get their way, but the vote isn't expected until later this afternoon.

If agreed, the reforms would lead to the redevelopment of two sites, Les Beacamps and St Sampsons High School, renovations to La Mare de Cartaret Primary School and to establish a specialist further education centre at Les Ozouets.

The total cost of the transformation is expected to be up to £157m.

BBC Radio Jersey

Same-sex couples in Jersey are being encouraged to become foster parents as part of a States initiative, external around Channel Islands Pride - which starts on Saturday.

Fostering with Pride is a campaign to highlight that same-sex couples can be equally effective as parents.

The Government of Jersey says it hopes to raise awareness and dispel any myths around who can foster a child.

Image source, Government of Jersey

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

The Chief Ambulance Officer, Mark Mapp will lay a wreath at the annual Prosperity Memorial Service at L’Eree on Saturday on behalf of St John Ambulance Guernsey.

The service, which takes place around the granite memorial over-looking Lihou Island, is organised by the Guernsey Association of Royal Navy and Royal Marines and the Guernsey Merchant Navy Association.

It remembers the crew of the MV Prosperity which ran aground off the west coast 45 years ago and all those lost in Bailiwick waters.

The Prosperity sank after its engines failed on the night of 16 January 1974.

It was driven into La Conchee Reef in stormy weather and sank with the loss of all 18 crewmen.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Alderney will play host to a meeting and exhibition later which will showcase the island's maritime history and heritage.

The Henry Euler Memorial Trust is hosting the event, which aims to understand the role played by Alderney in the wider context of Anglo-French rivalry, from the end of the 17th Century through to World War One.

Over the next two days there will be a full programme of public lectures, discussions and presentations.

They will feature academics and viewpoints from both sides of the Channel and attempt to give locals a better understanding of their home's history.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's chief minister says criticism of the way Jersey's States departments respond to complaints shows they need to make some improvements.

The Jersey Complaints Panel held more formal hearings last year than ever before, and decided all but two of the complaints people had made were valid.

In its annual report, the panel was critical of the way some departments have dealt with people who are unhappy at the way they have been treated.

It described the eight hearings that took place in 2018 as as an "unprecedented" volume.

Senator John Le Fondre said he takes complaints about service and process very seriously and will review this report to see what changes need to be made.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Image source, Jersey Met

BBC Radio Jersey

A young woman in Jersey is calling for smear tests for women under the age of 25.

Currently you have to be 25 years old to be eligible for a smear test in Jersey.

The woman claimed she'd been told any smear tests from a woman under the age of 25 sent to the laboratories at the General Hospital would be disregarded.

She believes if someone is showing symptoms of a condition, they should have the right to be tested for it and receive their results.

But Dr Linda Diggle, who's in charge of preventing illnesses in Jersey, said at that age a woman can often show abnormalities without there being anything wrong - and there are very good reasons not to intervene.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's government made £65m less than anticipated in the first six months of this year, but officials expect to have made £16m more than their budget by the end of it.

The States said the shortfall between January and June is due to a number of islanders' income tax assessments not being completed.

But ministers say the island's likely to make about £8m more from tax this year than initially thought once all the tax is accounted for - due to a rise in the amount islanders earn, and an improvement in the wider economy.

Officials are also expecting the Jersey Development Company and JT to pay them a total of £5m more than they had budgeted for.

James Rabey
BBC Radio Guernsey

The second day of States debate took place on Thursday - the only topic discussed was the future of secondary education in Guernsey.

Attempts to delay debate were talked about in length for the morning and part of the afternoon session.

Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen placed a delaying motion aiming to hold off debate until November by which point more detailed proposals could be put together.

Education said this was unrealistic, and the motion failed.

Debate then moved on to the actual plan and business case itself.

It was decided that the Policy and Resources Committee will also be given greater oversight of the project going forward.

Debate continues at 09:30.

BBC Weather

This morning will be dry with sunny spells, but this afternoon will have more in the way of cloud, with the increasing chance of some patchy rain.

A dry evening, with cloud breaking up to leave a clear rest of the night. Winds will turn to moderate.

Jersey

Guernsey