Heads should have had more time on policies – Fallaize

His comment came in response to a series of written questions from Lester Queripel, who raised concerns over the level of communication between the committee and the schools relating to attainment and behaviour policies.

The issue came to light in a Guernsey Press report in February in which representatives of the two main teaching unions said they were surprised to see these policies from ESC since schools already had them in place. There was also criticism of poor communication from ESC.‘Until now, communication between the States and teachers has been a bit scant,’ said Connie Armstrong, of the National Education Union.

Her comment was echoed by Chris Keates of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers: ‘It is regrettable that these policies were introduced without any consultation with the NASUWT.’

One of Deputy Queripel’s questions asked if, on reflection, the committee could have made more effort to communicate with teachers and their unions.

‘On reflection, although there was extensive consultation with the teaching profession, it would have been better if head teachers had been provided with a little more time to respond to the policies while they were in draft form and if unions had been advised of the policies prior to general publication,’ replied Deputy Fallaize.

Another question asked if ESC had undertaken comprehensive consultation with the teachers and unions in relation to these new policies.

Deputy Fallaize replied that the policies had been drafted in the wake of the removal of selection at 11 and following a direction of the States.

‘All secondary teachers in mainstream schools were invited to participate in discussion forums on one of four policies, including behaviour and attainment.’

There were also focus groups in each mainstream secondary school comprising staff nominated by their head teachers.

‘The final policies reflected feedback from these two phases of consultation. The draft policies were then shared with all head teachers.

‘Several head teachers sent responses for which we were very grateful and almost all their comments were incorporated into the final policies.’

Deputy Fallaize gave an assurance that ESC would regularly review its level of communication and make improvements where necessary.

‘In a very visible demonstration of its commitment to this, the committee has just signed off a comprehensive communications plan which includes wide stakeholder engagement,’ he said.

‘The committee is currently seeking the views of education professionals on the new inspection framework and also on a new mental health and wellbeing policy.’

Chris Keates of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers had said that ESC and the department appeared unwilling to engage with the workforce over critical developments. But Deputy Fallaize said that he hoped his letter of 28 February to the unions, acknowledging the shortcomings in the consultation process, ‘combined with the comprehensive communications plan, demonstrated that the committee was willing to engage with the workforce'.

‘In fact, a number of staff and union engagement sessions have already taken place over the past six months or so, including a meeting with union representatives in October 2018.’

Answering the final question, Deputy Fallaize said neither of the two union representatives had expressed their concerns to ESC prior to the Guernsey Press report.