La Mare Sixth Form concerns - what Education will and won’t do to address them
- Education responds to concerns raised by students and parents in opening week
- IT and plumbing problems being fixed
- Temporary screens for toilet blocks before more permanent solution
- Mobile phone policy and requirement to stay on site remain
- Parents and carers able to ask more and tour site on Thursday
Education is taking action to address some of the concerns raised by sixth form students about the new centre at La Mare de Carteret.
While acknowledging problems with toilet privacy, IT and plumbing, other new policies including staying on site and around mobile phone use will remain.
The committee released a statement yesterday after social media posts from students over the weekend detailing problems.
Education, Sport & Culture President Paul Montague said:“Both I, and senior staff from the Sixth Form, have been speaking to students and parents regarding their concerns around the Sixth Form Centre since it opened on Thursday.”
He emphasised that they are listening to students, parents, carers and staff, and are working to make changes quickly where they are needed.
On Thursday 11 September there is a Meet the Tutors Evening where parents and carers will be able to tour the site and speak to staff directly.
“While no one thinks that La Mare de Carteret is the perfect site for the Sixth Form Centre in the long term, I know that everyone involved with this process has worked hard to try and make it the best it can be.
“There have been many improvements to the site over the summer which should not be disregarded – I know the project plan included 250 separate items that have been executed over the summer.
“The Committee will be working as quickly as possible to formulate a plan for the permanent home for the Sixth Form Centre, and we have already expressed to the Assembly our ambition to drive through a plan expediently."
What ESC has said:
IT issues
There have been some general snagging issues - there often are at the beginning of a new academic year with firewall resets etc, but this is probably more disruptive than usual because of the move. One of these was an issue which arose with the Google for Education system and permissions. Action has been taken over the weekend to ensure these are resolved today [Monday 8 Sept].
Toilets and Toilet Doors
All of the high schools had the entrance doors into the toilet rooms removed in the past few years to address issues such as vaping in toilets and to ensure learners feel safe. To be clear, individual cubicles still have doors - it is just the doors into the toilet rooms.
This weekend, we requested that temporary screens to improve privacy be put in place, with a more permanent solution to be installed properly as soon as possible.
Furthermore, plumbers are attending the site to ensure that all facilities are fully functional, as there were issues with some of the taps/toilet flushing. There was found to be low water pressure which has been remedied today with the support of an external contractor.
Access in and out of building/Fire safety concerns
The external doors have a security system (SALTO) and can be opened from the inside at any time, and they automatically unlock in an emergency. Nothing has changed from last year in this regard, except that there is now a gate at the rear entrance to the site so passersby can't simply walk in from the playing fields. All of this is standard for a school now, and the site is all above board when it comes to fire safety issues. We know this security is very different from how schools worked in the past - but then this is also the case for many businesses.
Students required to remain on the premises during the working day
Year 13 students are expected to remain working on site for the whole day (except for lunchtimes) as they have throughout Years 1 to 12. This is a slight change from previous years when Year 13 students were allowed to "study" at home when they did not have lessons scheduled - this is because there was insufficient space on the Les Varendes site to accommodate students remaining in the building. This is no longer the case in their new location and therefore unnecessary. We are supportive of the Senior Leadership Team's decision to make this change to help improve attendance and attainment.
Mobile Phones
Similarly, the Senior Leadership Team have implemented a policy - on which they have our full support - asking students to leave their phones in a tray at the front of the classroom when they enter for lessons and collect them when they leave. This is a practice our educational leaders observed in outstanding UK colleges, and we understand the same was introduced at TGI prior to their inspection. The idea is to create a social contract amongst the students to avoid distraction during the lesson.
We think it is important to note that this is a much-relaxed version of the 'off and away' policy, which applies all day, including outside of lessons, observed in our 11-16 high schools. Phones are also not being confiscated. To be clear, students only have to do this during taught lessons. They all have their own laptops, so this is no impediment to accessing online resources.
Over the past few years, I have personally observed the increasing disruption to student concentration caused by mobile phones in classes. This policy has our support.
Lateness and Detentions
Students are being asked to make up time missed if they are excessively late to lessons, and to attend catch-up sessions if they haven't completed work by the deadlines set (detentions are not being issued). This is considered good preparation for the workplace.
Study and eating space
Students can eat in the cafeteria, study hall and both outdoor courtyards. There was a problem on Friday during the 2nd lesson when about 150 students had independent study at the same time. This is a timetabling issue that we have been told is being resolved.
Parking
Whilst we can appreciate that students would like there to be more parking available at the new site, the limited spaces and the challenges this can present are an island-wide issue –this mirrors the challenges many businesses face across the island providing staff parking.
There are 36 spaces on site for students wanting to park, as well as up to 9 additional spaces beside the playing field. Several public parking lots have been identified nearby for them to utilise.
The project team have worked with Traffic & Highway Services to develop solutions to improve public bus accessibility. Additionally, a range of active travel measures, such as the installation of additional sheltered bike racks, have been implemented to encourage and support sustainable travel to and from the site and reduce car dependency.”
Why did the Sixth Form Centre move to La Mare de Carteret and what are the future plans?
The move is part of the reorganisation of secondary provision on the island to three 11-16 high schools (St Samspons, Les Beaucamps and Les Varendes).
Having the centre at La Mare, which was empty, is said to be a temporary solution, partly aimed avoiding overcrowding at Les Verendes, partly driven by the fact Les Ozouets campus, where it will eventually move, is behind the original schedule envisaged.
This dates back to a belief by States members when they voted through the re-organisation that having one of the high schools sites with a sixth form centre was unfair.
Under current plans it will be there until at least 2029. No funding has been agreed for the building of the new sixth form centre, although a concrete base was passed as part of the initial phase of work at Les Ozouets, and predicted costs have doubled to £40 to £50m.
The purpose built sixth form centre at Les Varendes will be used to house education staff.
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