Guernsey's new head of Education wants to examine early years education and improve staff retention.
Deputy Paul Montague told Island FM he is settling into his new role as head of Education, Sports and Culture, but his team have a mammoth task ahead.
Guernsey pupils return to classrooms this week after the summer holidays.
Deputy Monatgue says although he will miss his teaching career - which spanned three decades - he has found the step into politics "invigorating and fascinating."
He says a priority will be to address poor school staff retention rates, which he links to poor educational outcomes.
"So many youngsters' progress has been blighted by having a constant turnover of staff.
"Touch wood, it is looking better for this September, far fewer vacancies, and hopefully we can get that stability."
He says attention will be given to young learners.
"We've got to remember that we are dealing with kids from the very beginning of their lives, and I think that is where we need to add value.
"We need to look at our early years strategy, it's not just that education starts at reception, there are loads of arguments that say the most important education starts at birth.
"We need to make sure that every youngster in our society has the best opportunity, so it is not playing catch-up when they start their GCSEs, they have got those foundations in literacy and maths."
His first hurdle when official States business begins on Wednesday ( 2 September) will be to fight a move to delay Guernsey's education law around the set up of governance boards.
Deputy Haley Camp says the current proposals would see them set up without adequate power or accountability.
Deputy Montague - who wishes to see them set up and later improved - says this is an interesting insight into how Guernsey's government works.
"Members of the public always say the States move slowly, but there is always that scrutiny, there’s always that challenge.
"I just want to get on with this, so I have to go in and persuade my colleagues that this is the right track, while my other colleague who put forward the sursis will be trying to say we need to pause, take more time and do it a different way."
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