An Executive Headteacher from Guernsey will start overseeing Sark School from September after its former Head Teacher was sacked for keeping quiet about her son’s prosecution for sexual offences.
Updating Chief Pleas at its latest meeting, the Chair of the Education Committee confirmed the reasons behind Michelle Brady’s dismissal, and announced how things are going to change going forward.
Conseiller Carol Cragoe said following a safeguarding review, the Sark Education Committee has been working closely with the school’s Board of Governors and with Guernsey Education “to ensure that (Sark) school is properly supported and appropriately staffed in September”.
She explained that six other staff are leaving Sark school this summer, including the acting Head Teacher, a teacher, two cover teachers, and two teaching assistants.
To compensate for this, Guernsey’s Education, Sport, and Culture Committee has agreed to provide two teachers for the next academic year. They will be based in Sark full time.
A part-time Executive Headteacher will also be appointed “to provide leadership, oversight, and support”, said Conseiller Cragoe.
They’ll be based in Guernsey and will work both remotely and in-person in Sark.
“This is a very constructive and positive arrangement for the school,” Conseiller Cragoe added.
“It provides good quality teaching, additional leadership, and a direct link to the very much wider educational support and professional expertise in Guernsey will help ensure continuity for pupils, support staff, and provide reassurance for parents as the school moves through this period of transition.”
Conseiller Cragoe said that Sark’s Education Committee has “really appreciated Guernsey Education for their practical assistance, partnership, and commitment to Sark School and we know that confidence is built through actions as well as words, and the committee will continue to work with staff, Guernsey education, and the wider school community to support a positive and stable future for the school.”
The change to oversight from Guernsey has become necessary after Ms Brady was dismissed following an investigation earlier this year.
He had previously accompanied Sark children on school trips, including at least one overnight stay.
Conseiller Cragoe told Chief Pleas that Ms Brady did not tell anyone about her son’s arrest, when he was charged, when he pleaded guilty to his crimes, or when he was sentenced.
Express understands that people in Sark only became aware of Jacob Brady’s offending when we published an article in February 2026, when he was jailed for four years and four months.
Ms Brady was suspended shortly after this, when a safeguarding investigation was launched.
Conseiller Cragoe told Chief Pleas that “the decision to dismiss Ms Brady followed serious concerns about her compliance with the safeguarding obligations attached to the head’s role”.
It was confirmed that “there is no evidence that Sark’s children were harmed by this person, but that’s not the point,” said Conseiller Cragoe.
“The obligation remained that when she became aware of his offending and the potential retrospective risks, it should have been reported.”
Conseiller Cragoe said the Education Committee, and the Sark community “remain focused on the safety, well-being, education of children of Sark School”.
