Principal’s Update
It was great to see so many colleagues supporting their students and the exams team to settle candidates into the various locations for the re-take last week. Thank you. We have the English Paper 1 om Thursday morning so your continued support and encouragement will be greatly received.
At the Higher Education Advisory Board, we discussed the planned new student finance orders which should lead to more support for independent students (earlier then 25 years old if they live independently) and more financial support for online learning. This is planned for implementation in 2025. Some of the challenges we face is over space – our HE partners would like to grow here and in view of the lack of progress externally on the new campus, we will not be able to accommodate such growth. Health would like to deliver some theory here which might open up space for Level 3 to use their simulated work environments, but much depends on agile response and creative forward thinking.
At Secondary Heads, we looked at the current terms and conditions review for teachers who teach 22 hours a week and have form time and tutorial outside of teaching hours (only subject teaching is counted, not enrichment or tutorial). They have 3 days training a year and are looking for more time for this, but we teach less days than the UK so there will be compromise needed.
On Friday, we met Alan Stahl a Professor from Princeton, over in Jersey to explore the potential of the Coin Hoard and how education could connect people with their heritage and sense of place. It is currently on display at La Hougue Bie, and we are running a course at ACE on best practice in metal detecting, funded by the Foundation.
Tomorrow, our new Head of Marketing and Communication joins us. Jessica Tidswell is an award-winning journalist and champion for diversity and inclusion at regional level for Channel TV. Please give her your usual warm welcome.
This week we have a major presentation on the new Hospital to students and an opportunity to ask questions of the lead consultants. Nick Rudkin and Tony Tyrer have invited students from Construction and Engineering, Health, and Social Care. The event links to the recently launched wider public consultation process. They are looking to bring the clinical architect, engineers, the landscape architect, and other members of the project team. There should be a 3D model of the proposed facility. 120 students are expected to attend. Please check the calendar in the bulletin for further details on this week’s events.
- MON20 YOURHEALTH MATTERS
- MON20 MACMILLAN WELLBEING WEEK
- TUE21 BRUNCH & LEARN
- TUE21 NEW HOSPITAL PRESENTATION AND FORUM
- WED22 SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING WITH JAMES MATTHEWSON
- THU23 and FRI24ADVOCACY TRAINING
- THU23 ENGLISH PAPER 1
- FRI24 RESEARCH FESTIVAL UCJ
Teaching staff will be starting to plan their exit tutorials for students for after this examination and assignment final submission 2-week window. We have four Governing Body sub-committees before the end of the month looking at Finance and Risk, Sustainability, Quality and Standards and Marketing. Finance-wise, we have overspent £90k on staffing, as we have filled many of the vacancies that we were all covering.
With the curriculum plan due to be signed off this week for 2024/2025, at SLT we are very much looking to the future and preparations for next year. For you, I know it will be all about guiding the students through their final weeks and ending this year on a hopeful and confident note.
Have a great week.
Jo