Guernsey’s Education Committee has agreed that Mrs Coughlin will take over as executive head teacher for the equivalent of one day a week from the start of the next academic year. She will work both remotely and in Sark.
The committee has also agreed to supply Sark with two teachers, including a lead teacher, from September to help fill vacancies caused by the departure of three other staff in addition to Mrs Brady.
Sophie Roughsedge, head of education operations in Guernsey, said that Sark School would be assured of ‘clear and stable leadership’ from Mrs Coughlin, who will combine her new role with continuing to lead Hautes Capelles, where she has been head teacher for 16 years.
‘Although Sark falls outside the Guernsey Education Office’s formal remit, our priority is always to make sure every learner across the Bailiwick has access to the best possible education,’ said Mrs Roughsedge.
‘Parents, staff and pupils at Sark School can be reassured that we are working hand-in-hand with Sark’s Education Committee and the school to put strong foundations in place now to secure a stable, positive future for the school, and to minimise any impact to its pupils.’
The islands had been in discussion about staffing since soon after Mrs Brady was suspended in February over safeguarding concerns relating to the involvement at the school of her son, Jacob, before he was jailed for sexual offences against a child and possessing indecent images of children.
Mrs Brady was subsequently sacked and Sark’s Education Committee made a formal request to Guernsey for assistance with staffing at the school.
The cost of the staff from Guernsey will be paid by Sark.
‘I am looking forward to bringing together best practice from Hautes Capelles and Sark School,’ said Mrs Coughlin. ‘However, running two schools in two different islands and for two governments will certainly test my sea legs.’
Conseiller Carol Cragoe, who was recently appointed as chairman of Sark’s Education Committee, acknowledged at this month’s meeting of Chief Pleas that events at Sark School had caused concern, uncertainty and frustration.
She provided an overview of the reasons for Mrs Brady’s dismissal but said she was unable to share more details about confidential employment matters.
‘Over a very long period, from September 2024 to late February 2026, she [Mrs Brady] was aware that an adult male, her son, who had previously volunteered on trips with Sark School children, including an overnight school trip, had been arrested, charged, pleaded guilty and sent to prison for sexual offences against a child under 16 and for child pornography offences,’ said Conseiller Cragoe.
‘At no point during this long period of almost 17 months did she inform the school’s designated safeguarding lead about this issue. Nor did she inform the island safeguarding officer, her employers, or indeed anyone else, despite her professional and legal obligations to do so.
‘There is no evidence that Sark’s children were harmed by this person. But that’s not the point. The obligation remained that when she became aware of his offending and the potential retrospective risks it should have been reported. We are sorry that we have not been able to explain this in more detail until this point.’
Conseiller Cragoe said she was grateful for the patience of parents and professionalism and resilience of teachers and other staff who had ‘helped preserve the steady daily life at the school’ during a difficult period.
She thanked the staff who were choosing to leave their posts at the end of the school year and confirmed that its two teaching assistants would continue in their roles.
She said she was encouraged by the ‘constructive and positive arrangement’ agreed with Guernsey for the next academic year.
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