Jersey Education

The Education Department is responsible for providing education for the island's 10,500 school children and monitoring the standards of the Private and fee paying schools which have around 2,300 pupils. The education system in Jersey is of a very high standard and is based on the UK's national curriculum. 

The Education Department runs 23 Primary schools (including 10 nursery units), and 5 secondary schools.There are also 2 Fee paying and 6 Private Primary schools and 2 Fee paying and 3 Private Secondary schools on the island. Children are admitted to school from the beginning of the school year in which they reach the age of five. To register, parents are asked to telephone or write to the primary school giving the child's name, date of birth and address. A notice is published in the Jersey Evening Post to remind parents of registration. Parents must register their child at their catchment primary school by 1st February in the school year before their child is due to start full time school.

Entry to secondary schools is by catchment area linked to groups of primary schools.

During their child's last year at primary school, parents receive information packs with details of the transfer procedure from primary to secondary school. Pupils wishing to attend Hautlieu at 14+ will have been judged academically able as a result of CAT (Cognitive Ability Tests), SAT's (Statutory Attainment Targets) tests and teacher assessment. A leaflet explaining the procedures is available from the Education Department.

Entry to the States fee paying school is dependent on evidence of aptitude and ability to follow an academic course of study. Education from 16 to 18 is available at Hautlieu, Jersey College for Girls, Victoria College, De La Salle College and Beaulieu Convent subject to eligibility.

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. 

The States of Jersey provides education through state schools (including a fee-paying option at secondary level) and also supports private schools. The Jersey curriculum generally follows that of England.

Further Education

There are no universities in Jersey and so pupils will generally further their education in the UK. Tuition fees for Channel Island residents at UK universities are usually higher than for UK residents but not as high as overseas students. Limited student grants are available on a means test basis. Student loans are not available.

Jersey has a college of further education and university centre, Highlands College. Highlands offers part-time and evening courses for a variety fo academic and vocational subjects and also has the largest sixth form in the island. It works closely with the Open University, University of Plymouth and London South Bank University. In particular students can study at Highlands for the two year Foundation Degree in Financial Services and for BSc Social Sciences, both validated by the University of Plymouth.

The college incorporates the Jersey Business School and provides a limited range of degress courses.

The Open University supports students in Jersey (but they pay higher fees than UK students). The Department for Education, Sport & Culture provides some funding for distance learning courses, but at first degree level only.

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 Department maintains four special needs schools.

Day Nurseries and Playgroups

Information on these is available from the Day Care Services at the Education Department.

School Term Dates 2011 - 2013 

• Schools
  
  Jersey Schools

Useful Numbers

Jersey Online Learning website

List of Schools