I have been remiss in not contributing to the bulletin for a few weeks, my apologies.
As part of our college-wide quality assurance processes, Heads of Academic and Support departments have participated in the validation panels where we review their self-assessment and analyse the data provided to demonstrate impact on students. They also write their Quality Improvement Plan which is informed by our strategic and their local priorities. This has been an interesting process, and I would like to thank all involved in setting these events up and for overseeing and contributing. They really do keep us moving forward and enable better cross-college collaboration.
Also, this week we have had two curriculum experts in to review and evaluate the Jersey Progression Qualification. We have engaged experts in their field to cast an external eye on this customised qualification which has been running for 6 years. Although outcomes are excellent for JPQ students and we have improved modules on an annual basis with changes in vocational qualifications nationally we need to keep abreast of development and maintain best practice. Thank you to Heather Audoire who is leading this project.
Rob Moy has taken annual leave to take part in a Jersey Overseas Aid project in Nepal to build a school. GoJ employees are entitled to apply for a week’s paid volunteering and we look very favourably on the potential benefits of volunteering to the individual and the College. Rob intends to take our students on an overseas project to support our ambitions to enable them to have a more global outlook and put community first.
In that vein, I will be in Kenya in January. The first week will be government work, meeting Utalii College leaders (the best hospitality college in East Africa) to sign an MOU supporting staff and student exchanges, support for workers who are facing unemployment in Kenya to work here and support various sectors of the economy and I will also be meeting the Permanent Secretary for Higher Education to explore mutually beneficial educational opportunities. I will then be taking unpaid leave to work in a school in Malindi teaching English. The school is operating out of tents and the area is economically deprived. We are fund raising for the students here with a meal in the Academy on the 14th of December, and outline plans for a larger celebratory event in March. If we can raise £15,000, the school will open a training kitchen to train students and develop their feeding programme. They already provide uniforms and a hot breakfast as otherwise the students could and would not attend. If you have any interest in fund raising for the school, Malindi Bright Future Academy (a registered Jersey charity), please let me know.
With reference to industrial relations between the GoJ and Teacher/lecturers, strikes will be going ahead in schools on the 12th, 13th and 14th of December. As less than 10 people took strike action last time and our main union is NASUWT, we are not planning to close. A full risk assessment will be completed on Monday. Staff who have school-aged children can take leave, or WFH if you have a non-student/customer facing support role, or take unpaid leave to care for primary aged children who may be attending a school which closes. Some, non-workshop lessons can go online, as long as it is not more than 20% of the course timetable. And staff can WFH home 20% – so a day a week, a morning or an afternoon, or one full day in line with agreed HC policy. Please let your line manager know of any potential difficulties you may have. Let’s hope for a resolution soon.
This week was our final Governing Body meeting of the calendar year and the governors, who volunteer their time to support the College, enjoyed a delightful, Christmas meal in the Academy. My appreciation to Dom and Mihaela and their students for a great evening. The governors also met a group of invited students to hear about their learning experiences here. This was open to anyone and the turnout was better than expected. They were a credit to you and your teams.
This week we had the Lieutenant Governor in to observe and learn about our DEC! course. He really enjoys his time here and truly values the craft and technical skills staff are teaching and developing. The Lieutenant Governor has also linked us up with an organisation which has gifted £5k to students in need via our Highlands Foundation Charity.
Finally, leaders from the Economy Department and the Arts and Cultural Centre ran two workshops here to explore the setting up of a Creative Arts Academy at Highlands College. There is government funding and a great willingness from leaders to invest in our arts and culture for the betterment of the island, so watch this space.
Thank you to all those colleagues who attended the remembrance event today for Kath McGinness. As Steve McGinness said, the support we give to each other as a community is so important.
