Big changes on the timetable?

Wednesday 25 June 2014

Major reforms to the structure of Jersey’s selective education system could begin next year following a review into the 14+ transfer to Hautlieu and the relationship with fee-paying schools.

Education Minister Pat Ryan is leading a group of ministers which has commissioned a report from outgoing chief officer Mario Lundy, and which he says will be published around the end of August.

The structure of Jersey’s education system is unusual – academic high achievers can transfer to Hautlieu from States secondary schools to take their GCSEs and A Levels, and the cost of education at the fee-paying schools is shared by parents and the taxpayer.

The subject is also a hugely sensitive one – Hautlieu has vociferous supporters and detractors, and the last minister who tried to change the deal with the fee-paying schools was dealt a heavy defeat, and lost the Education brief not long after.

Deputy Ryan says that the report, a subsequent review by the incoming head of department and the work of the political oversight group should put whoever is the Education Minister next year in a strong position to carry out any reforms needed.

“There are conflicting views on the structure that we have now and the best way forward,” said Deputy Ryan, who wouldn’t be drawn on his personal view, other than to say that he “wasn’t a Gove-ist” – a reference to the controversial UK Education Secretary.

He added that his department was also conducting a second review, in partnership with Jersey’s teaching union the NASUWT, that will focus mainly on the recruitment and retention of good teachers for Jersey schools.