Wednesday 04 April 2012
The Education Department has today published a comprehensive response to the Mulkerrin Review of Education Services in Guernsey. The report includes details of how the Department intends to implement Mr Mulkerrin's recommendations and identifies the key actions to enable the education service to move forward.
In January 2012 the Policy Council published Mr Mulkerrin's review which it had commissioned following public concern over poor GCSE results.
Education Minister, Deputy Robert Sillars said:
"The Education Board announced in January that it would prepare and present its response to the Mulkerrin review before the end of this political term and this is what we have done."
The report is in two sections; Part I sets out the Department's consideration of each of the nine main recommendations made by Mr Mulkerrin with the actions and commitment the Department will pursue in the coming months. In his review Mr Mulkerrin also makes a number of comments, which, whilst not explicit recommendations, require consideration and action. Part II of the report provides the Department's comments and responses to these issues.
Education Chief Officer, Jon Buckland said:
"In such a short space of time it has not been possible to implement all the necessary changes required, but it has been possible to identify a direction of travel which has support from all parties,
The Board held a workshop with headteachers, heads of service and the Department's senior managers, with help from officers from Policy Council and Treasury & Resources, to discuss their response to the issues identified and to help Board Members gain a greater understanding of the views of those working out in our schools or those supporting schools.
The feedback from this workshop informed our final response which we are publishing today."
In adopting a change management agenda within the Department, the Education Board believes it is essential that all change should be based on two underlying principles:
- Any change introduced must have a positive impact on pupils' educational experience and outcomes; and
- To be successful, change should be evolutionary rather than revolutionary so that new practices and ways of operating become successfully embedded within Guernsey's education system
Jon Buckland commented:
"Some of the actions have already been completed and some will take longer to implement,'
We anticipate that the new Education Board will prioritise the remaining actions and report back to the new Policy Council by the end of June. We believe that a key aspect of the work facing the new Board will be the production of a 'Vision for the Bailiwick's Education System' which will set our overall strategy for the future.
The challenge facing the Department should not be underestimated though, as alongside this change management agenda we are facing a reduction in budget for 2012 of £1.6m. We have a clear way forward and will be seeking the support of the States and the wider community in making the necessary changes."
