Principal’s Update
First a big call out to all colleagues who attended roadshows last week at our main feeder schools; enabling young people to get yet another chance to hear about out post-16 offers. This is a large logistical exercise and takes flexibility and commitment – so thank you.
This week we have the UCJ Graduation held at the Town Hall from 1100am on Friday 6th of October. Colleagues are volunteering to support the event attended by 100s of students and their friends and families, as well as university, business and political leaders. The Events team and in Lucy’s absence, Eileen Buike-Kelly, have been extremely busy making sure all is ready for a wonderful celebration.
We had two relay teams in the Marathon Sunday relay, and they are: Nathan Watts, Adrian Goldsborough, Andrew McGinnigle, Shaun Heslop, Ben Watts, Sue Diggle, Mihaela Lazarescu, Andrew Dewhurst, Sarah Dewhurst and Rob Moy. I write this on the Friday before so I hope all has gone well and the weather was good.
I attended the Graduate Teachers and NASEN Level 7 CYPES graduation – congratulations to our Nianh Whiteman and Helen O’Connell for their outstanding achievements.
We are engaged in a range of new curriculum developments – for example offering barbering at La Moye Prison, as well quality assuring their programmes, because education is a fundamental aspect of rehabilitation. Creative Arts are redesigning their offer to enable new pathways via UAL to a more broad-based curriculum including, Art, Media, and Performance. The Government of Jersey lead for Arts is engaged in the re-design. In adult retrain, we are offering cyber security which is in big demand and a growth area. My thanks to Tony Tyrer who has led on approvals for us on the new offers.
It was disappointing to note that the Government Delivery Plan for 2024 did not identify funding for the new campus. There are millions for repairs, but not the funding to make the step change we need. We will continue to update classroom and workshops and all working spaces in fact, to the best of our ability because it seems unlikely, we will see a new campus soon.
This week coming, I will be on a judging panel for the Teacher of the Year Award – JEP PRIDE, attending the launch of the new Research Repository at JICAS here and of course taking our UCJ guests for dinner to thank them for flying over and awarding degrees and prizes.
Industrial action continues, but I must put on record my thanks for making sure students’ learning is not negatively impacted. I know we wish a solution could be found and I know all parties are working towards an acceptable end-point.
Paul Caulfield is liaising pan island to grow our Apprenticeship Skills Competition this year. We are looking to Construction, Hair and Beauty and Hospitality, Culinary Arts to lead the way.
Our EBS data system is now 2 years in operation and is developing every month. Careers teachers in schools will now have better access to applications to guide their school cohorts. Also, student online profiles will be accessible to all teaching staff so they can continue to adapt their teaching.
COVID seems to be making a comeback, four cases in SLT in the last month for example, so make sure you test if you have flu-like symptoms and please take advantage of free flu vaccinations which are being offered by GoJ and doctors’ surgeries. It is important to take care of your wellbeing and we have a series of talks and events to help you help yourself. There is no isolation policy, but while you are positive you could work from home, if well enough of course, and certainly reduce contact with vulnerable relatives and friends.
I hope you have a great week and the sun shines for the Graduation.
My very best wishes
Jo