Education in the Channel Islands, like much else, differs from one bailiwick to the next. Expats will need to carefully consider the exact location of their new home before deciding on their children’s schooling options. That said, there are a few common aspects.
Compulsory schooling throughout the Channel Islands is from ages five to 16. Most students choose to continue with their A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate, which are accessible through various post-secondary schools. Public schooling is free of charge from ages three to 18.
Schools in Jersey and Guernsey generally follow the same curriculum as in England and offer excellent educational standards.
Public schools in the Channel Islands
Guernsey
Public schooling in Guernsey is known as the States Maintained Education System. All schools in this system are free to attend. School admissions in Guernsey are determined by catchment area, so parents should consider this when deciding which part of the island to live in.
There are 14 state primary schools in Guernsey, two of which are Catholic voluntary schools. Expats wishing to send their child to a Catholic school must submit a baptismal certificate with their application. At secondary level, Guernsey operates three comprehensive 11–16 high schools, and Sixth Form is available at a dedicated Sixth Form Centre.
To get an idea of the quality of each school, prospective parents can view individual school reports on the Guernsey government website, which also has lots of information.
Jersey
Public schools in Jersey, also called ‘government schools’, are either free (non-fee-paying) or partly funded by the government (fee-paying). Although attendance at fee-paying schools incurs tuition fees, these are much lower than at private schools. As in Guernsey, catchment areas apply.
There are 27 non-fee-paying primary and secondary schools in Jersey, with a small selection of fee-paying government schools. Most primary schools also have a pre-school section.
In recent years, the Jersey government instituted a rating and assessment system for all government schools. This is known as the Jersey Schools Review Framework (JSRF). The results for each school are available on the Jersey government website.
Useful links
Private and international schools in the Channel Islands
Private schools in the Channel Islands are known as ‘independent schools’ in Jersey and ‘private/grant-aided’ schools in Guernsey. Due to the small size of Jersey and Guernsey, options are limited, with each bailiwick having just a handful of private schools to choose from.
Many of the senior independent schools are single sex, although co-educational preparatory schools are available in both bailiwicks. Most teach from a Christian, Catholic, or non-denominational perspective.
There are no dedicated international schools in the Channel Islands. That said, several private schools in both Jersey and Guernsey offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) alongside traditional A Levels, making them a workable option for globally mobile families.
Useful links
Special educational needs in the Channel Islands
If parents feel that their child has special educational needs in the Channel Islands and may need extra assistance in school, they can request an assessment from the local education authority.
Children with special educational needs will have an individual plan drawn up by the relevant education body. This plan will specify a particular school for them to attend, whether mainstream or specialised, which is obligated to provide the child with a place.
Useful links
Tutors in the Channel Islands
Tutors in the Channel Islands can be helpful for expat families in a few different situations. Children from abroad may need a little help catching up to the local curriculum or benefit from extra English language lessons if it isn’t their mother tongue. Parents concerned about their children losing their ability to speak their native language while in the Channel Islands should consider hiring a tutor to help maintain fluency.