Deputy Rod Bryans’ comments follow a warning this week from Rob Ward, the Jersey president of the National Education Union, that the industry was facing a crisis, with many teachers at States schools ‘exhausted’ and close to quitting the profession or being signed off with stress.
In response, Deputy Bryans, who has stood aside from his duties while his conduct is being investigated, said that initial results from the 2017 Teachers’ Survey indicated that 83% of educators who responded were satisfied with their role (down from 87% in 2015), which he described as a ‘significant percentage’.
He said that the survey was evidence that his department was listening to teachers.
‘We know it is our job to make things better,’ he said.
‘We are focused, along with the unions, on improving the working life of our teachers because we believe that will improve the standards for our young people.
‘We are well aware that there has been an unprecedented period of change in education. We recognise that teaching is a tough job. Are there concerns? Of course there are. Are we doing something about them? Of course we are.’
Deputy Bryans said that talk of a ‘crisis’ was misleading and pointed out that Jersey’s staff turnover rate of 8% between 2014 and 2017 was lower than the UK’s and also below the average turnover within the States.
‘We know teachers work hard and, along with parents, we thank them for it,’ he said. ‘We also know that many teachers in Jersey do not feel there is a crisis, but there is a difficult period that we are working through.’
A freedom of information request showed that more than 150 teachers had left the profession for reasons other than retirement between 2014 and 2017. Deputy Bryans said that teachers had many reasons for leaving schools, including moving to private schools (whose turnover figures are not tracked by the department) or leaving the Island.
‘Those that do leave are replaced and the turnover brings new teachers and new ideas to our schools,’ he said. ‘We do not slavishly follow the UK and we do not have large numbers of unfilled vacancies.’
In response to claims from teachers that there was too much scrutiny of their performance, Deputy Bryans said that professionals in every sector had their performances tracked and that it was an important measure for identifying and solving problems. He also claimed that many teachers had told the Education Department that they welcomed the feedback. Mr Ward had claimed that red tape and administrative tasks were sapping teacher’s energy and time. Deputy Bryans said that his department was working closely with the unions to find a better balance in the classroom and that several steps had already been taken. These included investment in a new computer system to make reporting easier and faster, improved leadership training, a new ‘realistic assessment and marking policy’, and the introduction of wellbeing practices to reduce stress.
‘The changes are starting to bring success,’ Deputy Bryans said. ‘Our children’s results are improving and this will give them better employment and life prospects as a result, precisely what businesses and parents expect of our education system.
‘Most teachers in Jersey are the same inspirational characters we all encountered when we went to school.
‘They are dedicated, caring and valued professionals that continue to make a real difference to people’s lives.
‘We will continue our work to improve education in Jersey for both the educators and for their students.’
