Q. How do I register my child for a place in a primary school? Parents should make contact with the headteacher of the school in their catchment area to register their child between September and January in the year before they are due to start school. Click here for a list of schools and contact numbers/addresses. Q. How can I find out which school catchment area I am in? Please contact the Administration Manager, John De Carteret, at the Education Department on (01481) 710821 or via email at jdecarteret@education.gov.gg Q. I am moving to the island in a few months time. What do I need to do to get my children into school? Once you have found somewhere to live and the Education Department has confirmed the catchment area you are in please contact your catchment school direct to arrange for a place at that school for your child. A list of all schools can be found on the schools homepage with contact details in the Schools Directory. If you have a child between the ages of 11-16 and would like them to be considered for a place at the Grammar School please contact the Administration Manager, John De Carteret, at the Education Department on (01481) 710821 or via email at jdecarteret@education.gov.gg as soon as possible. Q. I am moving house into a different catchment area, do my children need to change schools? The Education Department operates a catchment area policy so if you do move house your child should move to the new catchment area school. The Education Department does recognise that continuity in a child’s education is important and may allow a child to stay at his/her existing school under certain circumstances. Q. When is my child required to start school? All children who reach the age of 5 before 1st September in a particular year are required to attend school for the next academic year onwards. Children who reach the age of 4 on or before 31st August may also start school from the beginning of the academic year in September, but only if spaces and staff are available at the school. Q. Can I see a league table for schools in Guernsey? The Education Department has only a small number of schools in the Bailiwick and places are allocated on a catchment area basis or through the 11+ selection system. All schools under the control of the Education Department undergo an independent inspection every five years. The summary of these validation reports are published in the monthly States Billet d’Etat and provide what the Department feels is a better way to monitor a school’s performance and highlight areas where improvements could be made or greater support provided. Q. Do schools in Guernsey follow the same curriculum as in the UK? There is very little difference between the UK and Guernsey with respect to the curriculum that is offered as the Education Department recognises that staff and pupils may move between the Bailiwick and the UK. The National Curriculum (Guernsey) is taught in all schools under the control of the Education Department. One of the main differences between National Curriculum UK and the Guernsey curriculum is that, in keeping with the island’s culture and history, French is taught in Years 5 and 6 at Primary School. Options at Key Stage 4 are more flexible to enable local schools to meet the needs of individual pupils and in some subjects, such as History and Citizenship, the Programmes of Study have been amended to recognise the unique history and constitution of the Bailiwick. The standard of children’s work is also assessed differently using teacher assessment rather than formal SAT tests at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. Like the UK, GCSEs remain the most common qualification at Key Stage 4. Q. What do the different Key Stages represent? Key Stage 1 used to be known as Infants and represents pupils aged between 5 and 7 years. Key Stage 2 used to be known as Juniors and is for pupils aged from 8 to 11. Key Stage 3 is the first three years of secondary school when pupils are between the ages of 11 and 14. Key Stage 4 is the two school years during which most pupils will sit GCSEs or equivalent. Key Stage 5 is Post-16 study and can include A Levels or vocational studies. Q. My child currently has a place at a fee paying school but I would now like them to transfer to the States sector. Is this possible? Such a transfer to your catchment area school is possible in both the primary and secondary phases. For further information contact Administration Manager, John De Carteret on (01481) 710821 or via email at jdecarteret@education.gov.gg Q. I can’t afford to pay for my child’s school uniform, is any financial assistance available? Yes. The Education Welfare Service offers clothing grants to help parents pay for school uniforms and processes around 600-700 applications for assistance per year. Please contact the Education Welfare Service on 710821 for advice, information or an application form. Q. Can I take my child on holiday during term time? The Department seeks the support of parents not take their children out of school during term time. Continuity of education is an important part of learning and if a key concept is missed in a particular week this can potentially affect a child’s learning in the future. The Department would be concerned at the damage that can be caused to a child’s education if parents frequently take their children out of school during term time. However, the Department realises that in certain circumstances a particular trip could be beneficial in terms of a pupil’s learning and development. Under Guernsey’s Education Law it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their child receives education. However, the Education Department would expect the school to be given prior notice if a child is to be taken out of school during term-time. Q. I don’t want my child to sit the 11+, can they opt out of taking the tests? During a pupil’s last year at Primary School, parents are asked to decide whether they want their child to take part in the process of selection for a place at the Colleges or Grammar School. Parents can opt straight away for a secondary school place. This means that their child does not have to complete the 11+ papers. This decision must be notified to the Education Department on the entry form which is given to parents in the October of this school year. Q. Where can I find out more about the 11+ system? If a pupil reaches his/her 15th birthday by the end of January they can leave school at the end of the Spring Term in that school year. If a pupil’s 15th birthday falls after the end of January they must stay at school until the end of the Summer Term. The Education Department will be raising the school leaving age to 16 in the academic year 2008/09 meaning that all students will be required to complete their Year 11 studies before leaving school. The leaving date for Year 11 students from 2008-09 is the last Friday in June. Q. What options are there for students to study Post-16? If they fulfil the entrance criteria, pupils can choose to stay in full time education at: · Sixth Form Centre at the Grammar School, or remain at grant assisted Colleges to study AS and A Levels · Apply for a place at the College of Further Education to study vocational qualifications Pupils can start work/training · Apprenticeship scheme – students need to find an appropriate job with an employer and then register as an apprentice Q. How do I apply for Post-16 courses? Timetable of events: September – Joint talks by Sixth Form Centre and College of Further Education to Year 11s Oct/November – Joint talks to Year 11 parents November – Year 11 visits to Post-16 institutions January – Careers Convention January – Application forms available February – Individual student interviews March – Completion of application form April – Offers received by students and acceptance of place confirmed For further information please contact the Sixth Form Centre on (01481) 256571 or the CFE on (01481) 737500. Q. I want to go to University. How do I go about applying for a student grant? Click here for more information about Student Grants or if in doubt contact the Grants Sections at the Education Department on 710821. Q. I have no idea what to do when I leave school, is there any help I can get? Careers teachers in school, the Careers Service and the College of Further Education can all provide help and guidance on the options after leaving school. Click here to visit the Careers Service website. The Careers Office is situated in the Grange as part of the Education Department. It's opening hours are 8.30am till 5pm Monday to Friday. | 
