Education in the Falkland Islands

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Falkland Islands Community School, the main secondary school in the Falklands.

Education in the Falkland Islands starts with childcare for babies, all the way to lifelong learning for adults. It broadly follows the English education system.

Primary and secondary education[edit]

The Infant and Junior School and Camp Education teach 3 to 11 years olds (Foundation Stage to Year 6). The Infant and Junior School is in central Stanley and is a 2 form entry primary school. Camp Education has 2 rural schools in Fox Bay Village and in Goose Green, both schools have a full-time teacher who teaches children in a mixed-age group. Children, up to Year 5, who are living at farms which are too far from either Stanley or settlement schools are taught by travelling teachers and by phone lessons with a teacher.

The Falkland Islands Community School caters for ages 11 to 16. Older children can board in a hostel in Stanley so they can attend school there.[1]

All teachers are trained in the UK or other English-speaking countries. There is also a primary school at RAF Mount Pleasant that mainly serves the children of members of the British armed forces.[2] Some primary aged children who live in "camp" (the local term for the countryside) are educated remotely. In 2021 this Camp Education system celebrated its 125th anniversary.[3][4]

Post-16 education[edit]

Peter Symonds College in Winchester, England provides sixth form college to Falkland Islanders

There are no post-secondary institutions on the Falklands, and therefore post-secondary studies would require travel to the UK or beyond. The Falkland Islands Government pays for qualified 16- to 18-year-olds to go overseas to study in the UK.[5] As of 2012 typically students went to England to take A-level courses at Peter Symonds College, Winchester, England[1] (which houses a Falkland Islands funded boarding house named Falkland Lodge)[6] or to attend Chichester College to acquire National Diplomas or NVQs.[1] In 2005 principal Neil Hopkins described the college as "the official sixth-form college for the Falkland Islands".[7]. In recent years fewer students have attended Peter Symonds, and it has become more common for students to choose other schools and colleges, usually in the UK but also in Gibraltar and in New Zealand. Students receive funding from Falkland Islands Government if they have a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade 4 or higher.[citation needed]

The government also funds higher and further education courses for over-18s, also usually in the UK, for suitably qualified students.

Almost all return to the Falkland Islands after they have completed their education and gained experience in their chosen field.[8]

Adult education[edit]

There is a small adult education college and training centre in Stanley, called Falkland College. It moved into a new building during 2020. It offers vocational courses, including via distance learning.[9][10] The college includes a library called the Christie Community Library.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Education". Falkland Islands Government. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Information Sheet 1c Location Overview" (PDF). Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom. February 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  3. ^ "Falklands Prepares a Grand Celebration for the 125th anniversary of Camp Education". Mercopress. January 2021.
  4. ^ "125th Anniversary". Falkland Islands Government. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  5. ^ "A Draft Workforce Development Strategy for the Falkland Islands" (PDF). Government of the Falkland Islands. March 2023. p. 4/13. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Peter Symonds College / Boarding". www.psc.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  7. ^ Kingston, Peter (21 November 2005). "It feels like being punished". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Relationship with Argentina | Falkland Islands Government". www.falklands.gov.fk. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Falkland College course brochure | Falkland College". www.falklands.gov.fk. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Falkland College Facebook Page | Falkland College". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.

External links[edit]

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