Ascension : School Statement
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 17.12.2009 (Article Archived on 31.12.2009)
As many of you will know, the government is in the middle of a modernisation process to ensure that its services provide good value for money and to address a serious imbalance in its finances as a result of insufficient tax. The reasons for this have been communicated widely.
Ascension Island Government
As many of you will know, the government is in the middle of a modernisation process to ensure that its services provide good value for money and to address a serious imbalance in its finances as a result of insufficient tax. The reasons for this have been communicated widely. The government has been working hard to address this problem and one strand of the exercise was the review of education provision on the island.
The CfBT Education Trust was commissioned to conduct a review of the existing education provision on the island. Its terms of reference were:
- To examine the current operation, finances and staffing levels of Two Boats School and comment on these by comparison to similar schools elsewhere.
- To advise on options for reduced staffing levels and structures necessary to provide a defensible standard of education, and identify the savings that would result from any reduced staffing etc. provision.
- To advise on the implementation of any new staffing and teaching structures.
- To advise on a strategy for the continuing downward management of the school in response to a falling school population.
- To advise on alternative methods of financing the school (currently funded through taxation) e.g. charging employing organisations for the cost of educating the children of their employees.
The review was conducted by Dr David Black and his report was submitted to Council on Friday 27th November 2009. The report offered a range of options, from closure of the entire school to taking no action, and these were discussed in depth by the Council members present. Some of the key issues raised in Dr Black’s report were:
- a very low pupil to teacher ratio/group sizes
- higher than average teaching free periods in the secondary school
- anticipated reduction in the number of pupils entering over the coming three years
- considerable savings could be achieved whilst maintaining present quality and quantity of educational provision
- excessive number of management posts
There have been many inaccurate rumours circulating that school would close completely or that secondary school provision would cease. However the recommendations made by the Island Council are very positive and allow for continued provision, with minimal impact, for all ages currently in school.
There will, however, be a reduction in the number of personnel in school and as a result there will be a number of operational changes. The main changes will be reflected in the school staffing structure, timetable structures, timetable delivery and a slightly narrower range of subject options available for study at GCSE level. The GCSE range will consist of a core of English, Maths, Science and ICT with a choice of 5 subjects from Business Studies, Child Development, Art, Food and Nutrition, Design Technology and either History or Geography.
The transitional period will be managed as sensitively as possible by all staff who will work hard to ensure continuity of quality education for all of the children. As you appreciate there is a lot for staff to discuss and organise to facilitate the transition. Much of the detailed planning for the transition will occur between now and the start of the Spring Term in January 2010. This will allow for detailed action plans to be discussed to enable implementation of the changes to take place as smoothly as possible.
Alan Cobden
Acting Administrator
10 December 2009
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