ESC proposes five-year phasing out of funding to Guernsey's colleges

Guernsey's politicians will be asked to vote on removing funding to the three independent colleges over a period of five years.

The Education Committee wants deputies to agree to removing the £2.8 million a year grant to the three private schools.

It is one of four options being put to the assembly, as ESC looks to end its support for Blanchelande and Elizabeth and Ladies Colleges.

The committee says continuing to subsidise the private education sector is not the best use of taxpayers' money, and the cash could be reallocated to support children in the States system.

ESC's policy letter says it doesn’t believe fees will rise as a result, but adds that States schools could accommodate an extra 10% percent of secondary pupils, at an estimated cost of just under half a million pounds a year over five years, or £290,000 over ten years.

"The Committee could redirect some of the grant-aid to cover these costs and reinvest savings

into high-impact areas, while also achieving a recurring annual saving of around £1 million."

Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:

“While it is important we review this grant through the lens of States savings and reinvestment, there is also a wider question here: should all taxpayers’ funds still be used to subsidise private education provision via grant-aid following the removal of selection seven years ago?

"Once that question is addressed, then it falls to the Committee to enact that decision in a way that causes the least disruption to children right across the education system. The Committee believes its proposals and the details in the Policy Letter do just that."

The colleges have been working with ESC on what will happen after the current funding agreement expires next year, but the two sides have failed to find a mutually agreeable position.

The schools argue that they provide 'excellent value for money' by educating around 30% of secondary school pupils for around 3% of the education department's budget, and that stopping the funding will not lead to a sustainable saving.

They have been permitted to table a counter-proposal to the States that their funding should continue for a further 14 years, rising with inflation.

In a joint statement, the colleges say they were not permitted to see the policy letter before it was published and will now take time to review the calculations contained in it.

"The three Colleges maintain that the existing approach and level of funding provides significant financial savings and long-term economic value to the States of Guernsey and the taxpayers of the Bailiwick.

"Conversely, we believe a reduction of funding will cost the States more money through increasing the number of children being educated in the States’ schools and through the long-term detrimental effect that ESC’s proposition to remove funding will have on the island’s competitive positioning and, ultimately, our wider economy."

They claim the current seven year deal has saved the taxpayer £10.3 million, and they maintain that losing the funding will lead to higher fees and impact middle income parents.

"We believe a stable, forward-thinking and diverse education sector, which includes an independent offering, is a critical part of the island’s attractiveness as a place to do business, which is why many jurisdictions, including Jersey, choose to subsidise their independent schools.

"We also believe that investment in education has a direct correlation with a community’s economic success.

"The independent, not-for-profit Colleges offer excellent value for money, delivering high-quality education at a low cost to the States. Sustaining this funding is not merely an investment in education for a third of our secondary age children - it is a commitment to Guernsey’s long-term prosperity."