THE Education Minister is “keen to start conversations” around how schools in Jersey could better collaborate to improve the choices and opportunities available for students over the age of 16.
Deputy Rob Ward recently published his response to a Scrutiny report that set out a series of recommendations aimed at bettering the secondary education system.
The minister accepted or partially accepted 18 out of 24 amendments proposed in the Secondary Education Funding Review, which was released by the Children’s, Education, and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel in December.
Deputy Ward said: “Education is fundamental to society and the prospects of individuals and indeed the Island. I consider every pound spent on education as an investment in the future prosperity of individuals and Jersey.
“Significant investment has taken place since the 2020 publication of the Independent School Funding Review, but it is important to continually assess funding levels and areas of spend to ensure they remain sufficient and are invested effectively to provide the best opportunities and outcomes for all.”
The report’s recommendations prioritised greater transparency in the allocation and use of public funds for secondary education, and also called for the government to reconsider the “divisive” policy that allows the selective transfer of students to Hautlieu School at age 14.
But in his response, the Education Minister said he is not able to commit to a review of the 14+ transfer “at this time”.
Deputy Ward added: “However, with the forthcoming challenge of changing demographics, it will be necessary to consider options for the delivery of secondary education through all Key Stages.”
The Education Minister did accept a recommendation which called for “an emphasis on collaboration between all the schools and creating centres of excellence”.
The panel said that this could be achieved by the government funding free sixth-form education where further collaboration can occur between the colleges and current non-fee-paying sector.
In response, Deputy Ward said he “is keen to start conversations on how a reformed 16+ offer could see greater collaboration between schools, maximising opportunity and choice for students with greater efficiency”.
He said he would not predict the outcome of this work as there will be “many options and opportunities to consider”.
The panel also called on the Education Minister to establish a suitable long-term and sustainable funding formula to ensure parity between fee-paying and non-fee-paying schools for inclusion support.
Although Deputy Ward partially accepted the recommendation, he said that he could not commit to achieve this in 2025.
“It would not be appropriate to ensure parity with non-fee-paying schools for inclusion support, as this funding is based on identified levels of need; spend increases when increased needs are identified,” the minister said.
“Individuals with a record of need get full funding in fee-paying and non-fee-paying schools. Inclusion support roles are fully funded in non-fee-paying schools, but where need is very low the minister cannot, in inclusion terms, spend money where it would not be an effective use of limited resources.”
The Education Minister also agreed that the Education (Jersey) Law 1999 should be reviewed to consider its suitability and adaptability for the future.
Accepting the panel’s recommendation, he said that the law “needs revision and modernisation as it is now 25 years old” but said that “it will not be completed in this term of office”.
Deputy Ward also pledged to review the use of zero-hours contracts in schools and make this available to the panel.
The Children’s, Education, and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel is chaired by Deputy Catherine Curtis, with panel members Constable Mark Labey, Deputy Beatriz Porée, and Deputy Helen Miles.
