New broom sweeps away old excuses

THE adventures of Denis Mulkerrin recounted in today's centre pages – from grammar school drop-out and London bus conductor to a CBE with the ear of prime ministers – make for fascinating reading.

There are many paths to success and Mr Mulkerrin knows that it is self-discipline that matters most in life, not privileges and good fortune.

As the man trusted to shake up the island's moribund education system, the former head teacher's report must become a foundation stone for a top-to-bottom revolution in how children learn and schools are managed.

Part of that revolution is the ready release of information, an area where the former regime scored rather badly.

The new head of La Mare, a man to whom plain-speaking and openness are clearly second nature, is the first sweep of that new broom.

How refreshing it was to read last week of Geoff Cowley's simple assessment of where La Mare went wrong and what it needed to put it right.

Gone were the denials of the past that it was a one-year glitch – to be replaced by a desire for accountability and consequences. The children had to know that their performances were not up to scratch so that they could acknowledge their potential and work to achieve it.

It is a pity that so many pupils had to pass through the school's doors before hearing such an honest assessment.

Years of an 'appalling waste of talent' were wholly avoidable, he said, and 'the young people of Guernsey deserve much better'.

And this from the man brought in by the former regime in its death throes.

Now that the old guard has stood to one side – with a regrettable lack of consequence or contrition – and Mr Mulkerrin is turning his attention to the primary sector, there is hope that all state schools can set their sights much higher.

That will take time and political support. Most importantly, it will mean turning Education's focus away from bricks and mortar to a realisation that, as Mr Mulkerrin says, what makes good schools are good teachers.