Calls to keep Guernsey's sixth form at Les Varendes

The sixth form centre is expected to be at La Mare until 2029 while a new centre is built at Les Ozouets

Students have urged the Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) Committee to halt plans to move Guernsey's sixth form centre to La Mare De Carteret.

Under education's current plans students would start sixth form at La Mare from September 2025.

Political pressure is mounting as well with Deputy Aidan Matthews threatening a requête to keep it at Les Varendes.

ESC President Andrea Dudley-Owen said the move would be "detrimental" to the "much-needed stability" put in place.

Mr Matthews said he has the support for a requête if ESC does not present States members with a choice to allow sixth formers to be educated at Les Varendes.

A requête is a political petition, similar to a private members bill in the UK, and requires seven signatories to force a debate on an issue by the States Assembly.

Aurora said she was "very sad when I found out my sixth form education would be at La Mare"

Aurora did her GCSE's at La Mare De Carteret High School and said she felt "let down" by ESC, being forced to use the building as the sixth form centre despite politicians raising concerns about the building for most of the last decade.

"When I was there the school didn't have the facilities we needed to succeed," she said

"It was annoying as I would have friends talking about these amazing science labs they had at other schools, and brilliant drama facilities.

"I was very sad when I found out my sixth form education would be at La Mare, it felt like going back when I was so excited to go to Les Varendes."

Last week States members supported spending £88m on a new further education campus and the foundations for the sixth form centre at Les Ozouets.

Mr Matthews believes moving the sixth form to La Mare is a mistake and with certainty achieved on funding further education, now is the time for ESC to reassess its plans for sixth formers.

'Not fit for purpose'

"We know there is a very good option to keep the sixth form at Les Varendes where it has been for years and years," he said.

"Moving to La Mare is not good for teachers, or students. A lot of people voted for this option because it was seen as the easiest and cheapest option and it's not turned out that way.

"This is the school building which ESC have been saying for years is not fit for purpose, it's dilapidated and a disgrace. Then when they need it they put a lick of paint on it and it's OK. I don't think it sends a very good message and I don't think students want to go to La Mare."

Student Taylor is set to spend some of her sixth form at La Mare.

"I don't think it's the right decision. Didn't they say this school wasn't fit for purpose? So why would they move the sixth form centre here? It doesn't make any sense.

"I'll be going there for a year, so I will be going to the sixth form centre at Les Varendes and then back to La Mare."

Deputy Dudley-Owen said: "The States-agreed model includes a separate sixth form centre and that is what we are implementing.

"If any member wishes to try and further destabilise post-16 education, after the States only just provided some certainty, and increase cost to taxpayers at the same time, that is their prerogative.

"However, in my opinion this would be detrimental not only to the much-needed stability that has now been established but also fly in the face of the excellent collaborative working that took place in the assembly just last week."