School subsidies (FOI)

Request

A

I would like to know what total taxpayer annual subsidy has been given to cover fees for Victoria College and Jersey College for Girls Fees over the past five years?

B

I would also like to know whether any studies have been made by the Government of Jersey as to why exam results at these fee paying Schools appear to be better than non fee paying Government Schools, and whether there have been any attempts to bridge the gap?

Response

A

Annual subsidy granted to Jersey College for Girls (JCG) and Victoria College for the past five years:

The subsidy is not to cover fees but to partly cover operating costs thereby reducing the fees that need to be raised for the schools to operate.

B

The fee-paying schools select students based on academic attainment and an ability to pay. As a result, they have fewer students with Special Educational Needs (SEN), English as An Additional Language (EAL) and very few students for whom the school receives Jersey Premium (JP) funding. This funding is given to schools to support students who come from families that have low incomes. Thus, it is impossible to make any fair comparison between a maintained non fee-paying school and a fee-paying school. Nevertheless, we do have a positive relationship with our fee-paying schools, notably Jersey College for Girls and Victoria College. The Education Department shares ‘good’ practice regularly and continues to encourage collaboration between schools about what seems to have an impact on students’ learning and outcomes.