Latest news with #BlanchelandeCollege
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Success for both islands at de Putron quiz final
There were wins for both Guernsey and Jersey in the final round of an annual quiz between the islands' schools. After a number of knock-out stages four teams remained in the 2025 de Putron challenge, which took place at Les Cotils in Guernsey on Tuesday. Guernsey's Blanchelande College came first in the year 8 competition beating Jersey's St Michael's Prep School. In the year 6 round, Jersey's Victoria College came out top ahead of the team from Guernsey's Melrose school. Despite not winning, the Melrose team were pleased with their performance. Charlotte, 11, said: "It feels really good because we are the best school on Guernsey. "So even if we didn't win the whole thing it feels really good to get into the final." Their teacher Sarah Morris was also impressed: "I felt frazzled and I was sat on a chair and I wasn't having to answer it in front of everyone. "They did really well and I'm very, very proud," she said. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Two schools make it to Channel Islands quiz final De Putron Challenge
BBC News
26-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Guernsey teachers' dedication in Covid remembered five years on
Five years since Guernsey schools closed for the first Covid lockdown, islanders have been looking back at what happened and how the pandemic impacted their lives. Nick Hynes, who at the time was the head of Inclusion and Services for Children and Schools, said it was a "scary" time. "At the time, it felt like we were making very big decisions - not only personally but for the whole community - and not quite understanding what that might mean then and in the future."He said during the lockdown teachers worked through their Easter holidays and supported Guernsey's most vulnerable now director of education said: "After Covid, education was struggling for a long time, because of the ongoing illness of staff and pupils, and the challenges of recruiting and retaining staff."I'll never forget the dedication that staff put in, without complaining." For Kieran James, principal of the Sixth Form Centre, the transition to online learning was the first said: "We started working with telecoms agencies and businesses to distribute wi-fi dongles because we realised immediately that some students couldn't learn online as they didn't have internet access. "We were literally going round dropping dongles and books through people's postboxes so students could learn."I think we all came back thinking, 'we do like school, we like being in school, and this is our community'." Sophia Roger, now 17 and studying at the Sixth Form Centre, said: "I think, as an island, we did deal with it really well. "We came together and did what we were told to do to pretty quickly which prevented any spread [of Covid]."I don't feel that I missed out on too much education, because my school at the time [Blanchelande College] made sure we had what we said the lockdowns taught her to be more grateful."We value things more now. "We value social interactions with our friends and having one-on-one conversations with our teachers, even going out to the shop." Tom Rylatt remembers leaving university in a rush and later struggling to complete his studies he says spending the summer months of the first lockdown in Guernsey gave him a much better experience than that of his peers in the UK."It was one of the only times in my life it felt as though everyone was putting their faith in the States - they were pulling for us and we were pulling for them - which doesn't always feel like the case now."What I remember was community, freedom and good weather."
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IoD urges States to fund independent colleges
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has warned deputies against voting in favour of proposals that could see funding cut for independent colleges in the island. Blanchelande College, Elizabeth College and The Ladies' College are expected to receive funding of £2.85m for 2025/2026. But if deputies vote in favour of proposals, funding for independent colleges could be phased out and reinvested in the States-maintained education system. A spokesman for the IoD said it was "critical for deputies to consider the economic contribution and benefits of independent education". They added: "We must acknowledge the risks to economic growth, confidence, competitiveness and therefore our future success from removing some or all of the funding." The committee for education, sport and culture has said it wants to phase out financial support for the colleges as is "not the best use of taxpayer money". It adds that funding private education is an "unfair allocation" of funding which widens inequality and that it is not necessary for the colleges to continue running. However, the IoD maintains the independent colleges represent value for money, delivering high-quality educational outcomes at a low cost to the States. The IoD said: "Guernsey would be putting itself at a distinct disadvantage at exactly the moment when ensuring educational stability and outcomes is vital for long term economic growth and success." The grant given to the colleges was £723k in 2019/20, which has increased to an expected cost of £2.85m by 2025/26. The issue will be debated by the States of Deliberation on 19 March. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Independent colleges could lose taxpayer cash Colleges to be exempt from some education changes Catholic college buys large estate for £1.4m States of Guernsey
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
IoD urges States of Guernsey to keep funding independent colleges
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has warned deputies against voting in favour of proposals that could see funding cut for independent colleges in the island. Blanchelande College, Elizabeth College and The Ladies' College are expected to receive funding of £2.85m for 2025/ if deputies vote in favour of proposals, funding for independent colleges could be phased out and reinvested in the States-maintained education system. A spokesman for the IoD said it was "critical for deputies to consider the economic contribution and benefits of independent education". They added: "We must acknowledge the risks to economic growth, confidence, competitiveness and therefore our future success from removing some or all of the funding."The committee for education, sport and culture has said it wants to phase out financial support for the colleges as is "not the best use of taxpayer money".It adds that funding private education is an "unfair allocation" of funding which widens inequality and that it is not necessary for the colleges to continue the IoD maintains the independent colleges represent value for money, delivering high-quality educational outcomes at a low cost to the States. The IoD said: "Guernsey would be putting itself at a distinct disadvantage at exactly the moment when ensuring educational stability and outcomes is vital for long term economic growth and success."The grant given to the colleges was £723k in 2019/20, which has increased to an expected cost of £2.85m by 2025/ issue will be debated by the States of Deliberation on 19 March.
