SCHOOLS across Jersey were almost £4.5 million in debt within the first 10 months of this year – with special educational schools bearing some of the the heaviest losses.
New figures released in response to a freedom-of-information request show that only a minority of government-owned or funded schools were in surplus by the end of October this year.
It also follows a Jersey Evening Post investigation published in May, which revealed that Island schools finished 2024 more than £2 million in debt, with 21 primary and secondary schools in deficit and sources warning at the time that the situation was “absolutely dire” and likely to worsen in 2025.
This year’s deficit stands at just over £4.4 million, with the Island’s special schools among the worst hit.
Mont à l’Abbé is in a £1.27m deficit and La Sente/La Passerelle down £845,559. With just 211 pupils between them, this puts the deficit across both schools at around £10,000 per student.
The figures, provided by the government’s Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department, are taken from unaudited accounts covering 1 January to 31 October 2025.
Among primary schools, Rouge Bouillon shows the single largest deficit at £321,548, with Grouville (£146,419) and St Saviour (£119,793) also deep in the red.
At secondary level, Grainville College is carrying a £658,731 deficit, while Le Rocquier (£201,092) and Haute Vallée (£154,102) are also over budget.
Several primaries remain in surplus but only one secondary school: Hautlieu with £73,375.
Jersey College for Girls and Victoria College, which are both part government-funded, reported deficits of £26,238 and £1,535 respectively.
Although private schools Beaulieu and De La Salle College receive government grants and funding, they were not included in the data.
The figures comes less than a month after the JEP exposed concerns from parents of children at La Sente/La Passerelle, who described the Island’s alternative provision for pupils with additional needs as a “dumping ground” operating in buildings they said were unfit for purpose.
Parents told the Jersey Evening Post their children were being taught in temporary cabins, sometimes in hallways, with limited access to outdoor or sensory spaces, sudden timetable changes and reduced school hours imposed at short notice.
A recent government-commissioned report into special educational needs provision across Jersey found leadership, strategy and accountability “not sufficiently effective”.
While “pockets” of good practice were identified, independent reviewers concluded that “too few disadvantaged or vulnerable” pupils are having their “full range of needs met”, and that a “lack of clear leadership and management, coupled with changes in priorities at the highest level, have resulted in an enduring sense of turbulence and uncertainty”.
Reviewers also found that there was “insufficient transparency” around how the Island’s budget for education and inclusion was being used.
As part of the 2026 Budget, which was approved earlier this month, the government set aside a £246m department spend across Children, Families, Education and Lifelong Learning next year. A new secondary school is also due to be created at Mont à L’Abbé which will expand the Island’s provision of care and learning for children with learning difficulties.
FACT BOX:
| Schools | Amount £ -Deficit/ +Surplus as at YTD 31/10/2025 | Pupil Numbers as at Autumn Term 2025/2026 |
| Primary Schools | | |
| Bel Royal | 7,893 | 190 |
| d’Auvergne | -63,491 | 428 |
| First Tower | 106,076 | 289 |
| Grands Vaux | 57,580 | 114 |
| Grouville | -146,419 | 380 |
| Janvrin | 57,915 | 321 |
| La Moye | 38,212 | 341 |
| Les Landes | -86,772 | 157 |
| Mont Nicolle | 36,167 | 182 |
| Plat Douet | -94,051 | 390 |
| Rouge Bouillon | -321,548 | 345 |
| Samares | -103,101 | 327 |
| Springfield | 57,803 | 203 |
| St Clement | -98,860 | 208 |
| St John | 25,216 | 169 |
| St Lawrence | -91,233 | 181 |
| St Luke | 33,886 | 189 |
| St Martin | -110,834 | 209 |
| St Mary | 23,155 | 149 |
| St Peter | 10,314 | 196 |
| St Saviour | -119,793 | 179 |
| Trinity | -963 | 210 |
| Secondary Schools | | |
| Grainville | -658,731 | 732 |
| Haute Vallée | -154,102 | 678 |
| Hautlieu | 73,375 | 757 |
| Le Rocquier | -201,092 | 722 |
| Les Quennevais | -15,862 | 868 |
| Fee Charging Schools | | |
| Jersey College Preparatory | 29,487 | 386 |
| Jersey College for Girls | -26,238 | 787 |
| Victoria College | -1,535 | 728 |
| Victoria College Preparatory | 26,727 | 252 |
| Special Schools | | |
| La Sente/La Passerelle | -845,559 | 82 |
| Mont à L’Abbé | -1,271,560 | 129 |
