THE union representing head teachers in Jersey has said it is seeking an “urgent meeting” with government over “significant” changes to the leadership structure of the Island’s education system.
Announced last week, a two-year trial of formal school partnerships across all non-fee-paying schools will see the creation of four “partnership lead” roles split into east, west and two town groups based on existing secondary school catchment areas.
The government said the changes are a response to declining pupil numbers, rising special education need demand and increasing financial challenges.
A two-year trial of formal school partnerships in the Island will be launched after the reshuffle was found to be supported by 87% of headteachers and 88% of deputy headteachers.
But Liz Salisbury, regional head (South Central) of school leaders’ union National Association of Head Teachers, said that “at present there appear to be differing understandings of the level of engagement with the profession” and said efforts were being made “to clarify this”.
She said: “We are aware of the proposals regarding our school partnerships in Jersey and recognise that schools and their communities have a strong history of collaboration over many years.”
She noted that NAHT “have received a range of views from members” and are “keen to ensure there is a clear, shared understanding of how these proposals will operate in practise”.
She added: “It will be important that any new arrangements are supported by robust monitoring and evaluation, particularly given their impact on school leadership and the wider system.”
Regional officer at Unite Jersey, James Turner, said that “only time will now tell over the trial period of how this announcement progresses to the benefits of staff and students alike”.
But Mr Turner did emphasise that Unite “were involved in the consultation process” and said his representatives feel the new partnership structure “could be of great benefit to the schooling here in Jersey”.
Marina Mauger, speaking on behalf of NASUWT, praised the department for being “forward-thinking” in their approach to finding “the best way to make all the schools follow similar programmes”.
‘In principle it’s a very good thing but what we’ll have to do is wait and see what happens,” she said.
Ms Mauger suggested that the success of the reorganisation “will all depend on who gets appointed to the partnership leads”.
“If the right people are selected for the roles it will be a positive move certainly,” she said, adding that the reshuffle will be a “mainly strategic operation” and that she does not think “day-to-day teachers will see much change”.
