Deputy Carol Steere is the Education Minister. Deputy Tony Spruce is the Deputy Minister Deputies David de Lisle, Matt Fallaize and Mike Collins are the Education Board Members (please click on names to find out more about individual Board Members) The Education Minister says: 'The Bailiwick has much to be proud of with an Education Service that consistently out performs those of similar jurisdictions in terms of exam results, favourable pupil teacher ratios, smaller class sizes, higher participation rates Post 16, excellent standards of teaching and learning and high quality staff. An independent survey shows that the majority of our young people are positive and confident and lead happy, healthy lives. We must ensure that this continues to be the case. I take on the mantle of Education Minister knowing that there are many challenging decisions ahead. The previous States of Deliberation made it very clear that there would be little or no increases in Departments' budgets.  One of our stated aims is to allow every child to achieve his/her potential. I believe that this statement should apply to adulthood also.  Achieving this against the backdrop of financial constraint and economic uncertainty will be the biggest challenge. Education is an investment in our future prosperity.   Starting with children in their early years should, I believe, reap rich rewards in the future. This is why I am so passionate about providing Nursery Education by building on the good work of the existing pre-school providers.  But the wish to extend services does not come without a cost.  As a politician I believe it is my responsibility to consider the needs of the community as a whole.  Delivering the best possible service and opportunities for our children, by giving them the skills and knowledge, to allow them to lead enriched and fulfilling lives is the objective. How that is achieved is the responsibility of the Education Board and the States of Guernsey. We are bound to have to consider some difficult and sensitive issues during this term of office. I can assure the public that foremost in my mind, and those of the Board, will be the Department's stated aims and objectives.