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Guernsey Education

The States Education Department is responsible for providing education for the island's 9,000 school children. The education system in Guernsey is regarded as being of a very high standard and is based on the UK's national curriculum. 

There are however a couple of differences. Firstly, the island still operates the 11-Plus system, with approximately 25% of pupils above a certain grade gaining scholarships to the Grammar School or the two colleges, Elizabeth College for boys and Ladies' College. They are privately run but receive a grant from the States of Guernsey. Children can pay for their children to attend one of the colleges or Blanchelande Girls' College, a Roman Catholic secondary school. The majority of children at 11 will take places at the Secondary school in their catchment area. Secondly the compulsory school age is 5 to just 15 years.

The States Education Council runs 13 Primary schools, 4 Secondary schools, the Grammar School, the Sixth Form Centre and the College of Further Education. Nursery provision is only available in the private sector. Children are admitted to school from the beginning of the school year in which they reach the age of five.

Following a survey which revealed that a slight majority of parents favoured scrapping the 11-plus system, the Education Council has undertaken to carry out further consultations with the population a whole and to report back to the States.

Higher Education

At 16 all pupils are offered the opportunity to take up courses leading to A Level, AS Level or to vocational qualifications such as GNVQ and NVQ. Pupils in the Colleges may continue to follow courses at their own school, but all pupils (including those at the Colleges), at the Secondary Schools and the Grammar School are equally eligible for entry to either the Grammar School Sixth Form or to the College of Further Education, subject to their achieving the minimum entry qualifications.

There are no universities in Guernsey and so Guernsey pupils must further their education in the UK. Tuition fees for Channel Island residents at UK universities are usually four to six times greater than for UK students. A limited number of grants are available on a means test basis but parents with annual income of over £40,500 will normally be expected to contribute to the cost of Higher education. The current States grant is £3,800 per annum. Student loans are not available but will be introduced in 2009.

Further Education

Further Education is provided within the Island at the College of Further Education where full-time and day-release courses and a wide variety of vocational and recreational evening classes are available. An apprenticeship scheme also operates very successfully in conjunction with the College of Further Education.

Special Needs Education

Pupils with special educational needs and physical handicaps are integrated with support in mainstream schools wherever possible.

For pupils whose educational needs cannot be met in mainstream schools the Education Council maintains two special schools: one for pupils aged 8-15 years with moderate learning difficulties and emotional and behavioural disorder; one for all age pupils (including nursery) catering for more complex learning difficulties, and a Nursery and Infant age school Assessment Unit, which provides for a continuous appraisal of pupils’ special educational needs.
 

States School Term Dates

Useful Numbers

Useful Links

List of Schools and http://www.education.gg/14.cfm?s=14&m=327&p=265,index

Guernsey Grid for Learning

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