Education are accused of ‘conspiracy of silence’
Friday 25th March 2011, 2:58PM GMT.
John Mills appears before the Scrutiny panel
THE Island’s schoolchildren and taxpayers are being let down by the Education department, which is covering up poor school exam results with ‘a conspiracy of silence’.
That is the claim of former Policy and Resources chief officer John Mills, who now wants a complete review and restructuring of the Island’s education system.
Speaking at a Scrutiny Panel hearing convened to investigate his claims, Mr Mills, who recently used a Freedom of Information request to force Education to reveal their results for GCSEs taken last year, also said that schools were underfunded and head teachers were not being given enough control.
He added that if resources were the problem, the funding currently given to fee-paying schools in the Island should be redirected towards States schools which need it more.
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I look forward to the the transcript of this meeting so the public can see how deluded this individual is.
His statistics are wrong, his ideas are dated and he has probably never been into the 4 states secondary schools on this island.
Why scrutiny are even interviewing him when by his own word’s “doesn’t have a clue” (you can read the transcript in 10 days) about many of the topics being explored beggers belief.
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The Scrutiny panel should take into account that Jerseys Education system is run differently to that of the UK, Hautlieu give the opportunity to the best performing children in each of the other schools to fulfill their potential and give them the best chance to gain the best possible results,
this then should give the other schools more scope to be able to focus on the other students to help them improve on their results.
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JDG (1) I look forward to the the transcript of this meeting so the public can see how deluded this individual is.
JDG how can you or anybody else say that John Mills is deluded, the CoM are sitting on the data and nobody is allowed to judge for themselves.
John Mills is to be congratulated on breaching the wall of silence. The truth will out, whatever James Reed wishes it out or not.
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hmm is all this a bit of a ruse by Deputy Reid to get his way re school subsidies?
Some of the states schools under perform. Too much pampering by the liberals to foreigners and political correctness.
Bring back corporal punishment.
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“That is the claim of former Policy and Resources chief officer John Mills, who now wants a complete review and restructuring of the Island’s education system.”
Hello? The guy left the Island, not exactly smelling of violets, years ago and here he comes out of the blue with no democratic mandate telling us how to run our affairs. My response to Mr. Mills consists of the traditional two word farewell.
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John Mills wants to restructure the Island’s education system?
Excuse me but who is John Mills and what gives him any right to say such things.
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What was that sound?
The sound of hundreds of private school parents double taking (a la Loony Tunes) Mr Mills’ suggestion that money be taken from Private subsidies and pumped into States and suddenly realising that they’re not that interested in what he has to say any more…lmao
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Derek #7 and others.
John Mills is to be congratulated for dragging this out from “under the carpet” against the howls of protest from the usual suspects (and some new ones).
The quote attributed to Mr. Mills :
“the funding currently given to fee-paying schools in the Island should be redirected towards States schools which need it more”
does seem rather odd if indeed he is suggesting removing the (rather limited) funding from the schools who are PROVING SUCCESSFUL.
HOWEVER, if this improved the States schools to a level where parents do not need to go private then I say BRING IT ON ! -there is nothing I would like more.
DOUBLE HOWEVER; I suspect that it is more of problem of ethos, streaming and teaching rather than underfunding. If FUNDING were the primary issue Jersey States Schools would be OUTPERFORMING their UK counterparts (by a factor of 2 is it ?)
In short LET’S MEND the States Schools BEFORE we even think of WRECKING the private schools.
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@Hedinda Sands
You seem to be stating that the States schools have a poor ethos, poor teachers and inadequate streaming – just to confirm; do you actually believe this to be the case?
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Hedinda: “If FUNDING were the primary issue Jersey States Schools would be OUTPERFORMING their UK counterparts (by a factor of 2 is it ?)”
Actually, that’s rubbish. Spending per pupil in states schools is actually significantly lower than the UK. Whilst in the Elysium of JCG, the head teacher has a baby grand piano in his office, in case a student wants a tinkle on the ivories, to show him their new composition. There is a vast discrepancy in funding. The fact is, the semi private schools do not need all the money they have; there is an incredible expenditure on what any head teacher in their right mind would call luxuries. Whilst the state schools really are scrambling around for every last penny and in some cases, working in accommodation which is not fit for purpose. Taking away the subsidy to private schools and investing in our state schools will help the divide close. It will not ‘wreck’ the private schools as you put it. Whilst we’re at it, make Hautlieu the island sixth form and stop this segregation of students at 14+. It’s a disgrace!
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Hi “Derek” #9,
No Derek ……….. Those would be YOUR WORDS NOT MINE !
I did not say that the ethos was POOR; but I would suggest that States school ethos is FLAWED and that ethos/streaming policy has been shaped by the 40+ year old dogma that has “overseen the destruction of British education from amongst the best in the world to amongst the worst in the developed world”.
The “ethos” might be laudable on paper but I would suggest that in practise it has been PROVEN TO BE fairly INEFFECTIVE in producing effective learning, results & wider engagement with education among broad sections of the students themselves.
The evidence for my opinions would be based on UK and some international experience (not just my own), to a large extent confirmed by the recent release of the truly shocking Jersey data combined with 40 years of effect from the UK.
With hindsight the Jersey data may not so surprising in that of the 41% or so of Jersey parents who (having PAID their taxes) have then chosen to PAY again for their children’s education. A portion of these parents will be the super rich, but the majority will be normal people struggling to get by even without the expense of school fees. They have recognised that the states PRIMARY and SECONDARY schools were failing their children. (yes I did say PRIMARY ! -part of the issue may be the intake level). These struggling parents are effectively REFUGEES from the States schools. The “Edu-dogmatists” may FORCE some back to be FULLY FUNDED by the states by carpet bombing the meagre refuge that PARTIAL states funding provides for their schools.
Personally I think that parents should have more choice not less. This “REFUGEE CRISIS” is best solved by making the states system “safe” for them to return to, NOT by making life difficult in the “refugee camps”, keeping the “death toll” secret and issuing regular state communiques that all is fine !
“lmao” you say @7; I had to look that up, but I politely suggest you re-attach your “posterior” back on, check that you are not speaking out of it and also check out the source of those “Loony Tunes” you mentioned.
Just to confirm, I did not say “teachers”, I said “TEACHING” – a subtle but important difference !
Of course there are bad “teachers”, but (I hope) relatively few. suggest that “TEACHING” is more of the problem, and this wider term includes the management and ethos and arguably a dogma-damaged teacher training.
1) Perhaps you (& Mr.Reed/Lundy) deny that there is a problem.
2) Perhaps you recognise that there is a problem but continue to assert that it is all the fault of Hautlieu or the private schools.
3) Perhaps you think that the states schools are doing a very fantastic job with their “raw material” and hence that the problem lies with many of their students being “too thick” to learn – This is NOT my view, I would prefer to think that it is more to do with the school’s, ethos and management and MAYBE the funding (“reality check” has just had an interesting post published on this issue @ #10)
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Hi “reality check” #10, interesting post.
“(by a factor of 2 is it ?)” – The question mark in my post is not an accident – it is in recognition that I am recycling other people’s information/suggestions which seem to have gone unchallenged (up to now !)
I am perfectly prepared to be corrected on this point of funding. So please provide the data or links you appear to be in possession of -and DO include also information on the capital expenditures.
Your point about the JCG “piano” is very emotively put !
But your point is……. what exactly ?
Can we take it that none states schools have pianos ? -I think that you will find that they all have pianos, including some/all of the Junior schools (Do give us the reality check on this but do mention
keyboards/synthesisers in the unlikely absence of pianos)
Please check that you are not approaching these issues with a grasp of reality and not weighted down be a “chip” on your shoulder.
Certainly JCG does look well funded, and arguably excessively so – not in terms of pianos but in terms of capital projects (arguably IN COMMON with many of the states schools !)
If the total funding of the States schools really is lower than in the UK, then I would agree that that is almost as shocking as the exam results. I have to say that in my (albeit limited) experience states schools are not underfunded and they certainly do not look underfunded. (reality check needed?)
IF underfunding is a problem it is certainly not the only problem. Can I give you a “reality check” from:
http://www.thisisjersey.com/2011/02/23/school-exam-worries-revealed/
Post by “Hautlieu Student” #92 :
******************************************
As a sixth form student at Hautlieu, who has attended both haute vallee for 3 years and hautlieu from then onwards, i find myself thinking…. what do you as adults actually know?
My time spent at haute vallee was awful, not because the teaching was bad (if anything it was sometimes better than what i have experienced at hautlieu), not because there wasnt any facilities (HV have more than Hautlieu), but because the badly behaved students command the place. Every lesson was disrupted by bad behaviour, bullying occured everyday, and learning couldnt take place. As soon as a badly behaved student did behave, they were rewarded. Unlike students who were always well behaved and who never saw a congratulatory comment for keeping their mouth closed for an hour. I felt under appreciated and under valued by the school, giving out a certifcate once a year in front of the school is not good enough, and if anything, embarrassing in front of your bullies.
Moving to hautlieu was a breath of fresh air, where i could express myself and was able to be myself. It was a new begining. No detentions and no certificates, you achieve because you want to achieve. And if your stuggling, the suppport is there and teachers are friendly and welcoming.
The bad results are not because of the teaching. Its the students. A massive attitude makeover is in needed, and the young people of Jersey need to wake up and realise that once they leave school with no qualifications, they’ll have nothing. I am not saying that qualifications are the most important thing because theyre not, but as soon as these kids open their mouths, they will not be taken seriously. As soon as they show up for a job interview wearing their mini skirt, they will be turned away. They need to understand the concequences of their actions and the way they present themselves. It is not only schools being too lenient, parents need to buck up their ideas and take some responsibility for their children and not only blame the schools.
I have come from a non fee paying school (Haute Vallee) and if im honest, i have never had any support from my parents in regards to education. Both my parents are portuguese and I learnt english at school. Yet, i achieved 10 a*-c grades at gcse and am currently sutdying the International Baccalaureate. So if you ask me, its up the the individual and if these individuals are being infuenced by ill mannered, antisocial peers, what do you expect?
The children going to these schools are intelligent, they just ‘cant be bothered’. As i said earlier, Jersey needs a massive attitude makeover!!
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I totally recognise and sympathise with “HS”s experience where she (I assume she) strongly suggests that her success was in spite of her environment rather than because of it. – THIS IS ABUSE ! – thank havens for Hautlieu -but you think she should be trapped for another two years ?
She possibly even debunks a bit of the funding information/misinformation.
Funding on it’s own is not a “silver bullet” – or perhaps you disagree ?
You are right “It’s a disgrace!” – but perhaps not in the way your dogma suggests.
Hopefully most children leave their schools with more positive experience than “HS” – or perhaps many don’t ?
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The funding issue I’m sure will come out soon, as reports are being published but I am not at liberty to discuss further at present. Yes all schools have pianos Hedinda. The school I work at has a piano, some of the keys don’t work and the peddles are broken, but it’s in a classroom, there is no money to fix it. Before all of the arguments started about funding, State schools have had 1% ‘efficiency’ cuts for the past 7 years and now we are being asked to save even more, to help prop up the ‘baby grands’ of this world. When I started teaching in Jersey, there was money for curriculum development, we could almost keep up with technological advances and the latest thinking on teaching and learning. This is now a distant memory, whereas the previous Labour government invested hugely in schools and there has been a significant improvement in the generally comprehensive system of education. There will always be students who dont fit in to certain schools and I know some state schools do have major issues with pockets of students in terms of learning and behaviour, but they all do there best to improve the situation for every child. And these students have to go somewhere! I van’t see them rolling up at Vic in the morning somehow. It’s not always easy, though we have accepted children from JCG and Vic in the past because of bullying
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Hi Reality check #13 (b)
Showing the odd wrinkle I may be – but for me learning is never over.
Part of my purpose of copying HS’s post was to give you and others the opportunity to learn or at least take note.
In spite of her young age and interesting spelling it is my suspicion that she is clever than you (& quite possibly me for that matter)
Her first paragraph ended …..”what do you as adults actually know?
Well……………………………….?
Predictable “Edu-Rhetoric” so far, and still surprisingly “chip” ridden
I appreciate that other pupils may have had better experience but in the REAL WORLD this sort of USER EXPERIENCE ……. is like GOLD DUST !
Take it on board – learn from it – If there is a problem – Fix it .
To quote the young HS again ………”attitude makeover” required .
I realise that you may be have become accustomed to sanding at the front of the class but in this case I think that you should consider going BACK TO SCHOOL and consider questioning some of the theory they gave you at teacher training school. How well is it working ???
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Hi Reality check #13 (a)
I thought that you might take the time to congratulate HS or perhaps even commiserate that she had such a bad time before Hautlieu rescued her from the “child abuse” (if “schoolyard” things happened to an adult, a court case would be on the cards).
But no – Between the lines you called her a MISFIT !!? -I do hope that this was not your intention but you certainly were swift in dismissing her experience and used it for (dogma inspired?) point scoring against JCG & VC. The smiley
does not sit comfortably next to the point about their (hopefully isolated) bullying problems.
From her all too brief contribution to these debates HS seems a very well rounded person.
You will also note that she specifically DID NOT BLAME THE TEACHERS.
You can “dis” me as much as you like -I can take it.
But a bit more courtesy and respect might perhaps be in order for HS
As you did not say it to HS (Hautlieu Student) , I will :
Well done you !
Well done for hanging in there.
I am proud of you !
We hope you go on to great things.
………………………
You may even become a teacher ? – it is not entirely a thankless task and the the holidays are great.
Whatever you decide – the world is your oyster and girls are the “real men” of tomorrow !
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Reality check for “reality check” #13 (c)
Square root of 4 has two solutions: +2 & -2
-2 should also be given for completeness but is generally less useful in the real world.
Perhaps I inhabit a parallel universe but generally in my world:
PROBLEM + BRAIN = SOLUTION
Can we apply that to the “piano” ?
What is broken and can it be fixed with clamp and a couple of pence of wood glue ?
If not, pianos are regularly available for FREE on the JEP “ecycle” site.
(was it wear and tear or is there a way to ensure that the next piano does not get “broken”?)
In your world there may be a civil service or health and safety reason why the above sum works out as:
PROBLEM + BRAIN = HEADACHE
This may also be”mathematically” correct but in this case does not get full marks.
Please be more determined and imaginative in your approach to solving education’s problems.
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Hedinda Sands
‘Square root of 4 has two solutions: +2 & -2′
When I was at Hautlieu, a long while ago, another boy showed me his cylindrical slide rule.
He set one part to ’2′ another to ’2′ and read off ’4′.
“You can see what I’ve done” he said to me.
I replied “You’ve added”.
“Since when has two PLUS two been four?” he retorted indignantly.
He and I know his identity!
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“Reality check for “reality check” #13 (c)
Square root of 4 has two solutions: +2 & -2
-2 should also be given for completeness but is generally less useful in the real world.”
The solution -2 is important to mathematics, physics, chemistry, electronic engineering, etc so if you can do without the gamut of technology from modern medicine to mobile phones, computers, iPods, etc it does not matter much.
Science has defeated smallpox, created the green revolution and extended human life spans by decades.
How many lives has finance changed, saved or improved?
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Hi Pip Clement #18,
The language of the future is maths (quite probably spoken with a Chinese accent ? under sharia law ???)
Maths is a beautiful language spoken in many tongues which tend to converge somewhere near the relatively few ultimate truths that humanity can glean.
I wish I had the time and intellect to be more fluent but the vocabulary is huge and growing and the syntax is limitless.
I was expecting flack for some of my statements and suggestions but sqrt 4 thing got me from “left field”
I would tend to stand by my statement “-2 should also be given for completeness but is generally less useful in the real world.”
“generally less” being the qualifying words.
sqrt4 = 2 can be used in many everyday problems, though probably not that often if you think about it
sqrt4 = -2 (or -2x-2=4 or any -ve square or route) : I can’t actually remember ever using that in my real life though I grant you that it is no doubt useful in some pure maths solutions to real world problems.
Negative routes (and the imaginary element “i” etc. etc.) could well be used in the “back office” maths of the technologies you list and I am happy to defer to any experience you might have on this.
My impression of the language of maths is that the same problem and it’s solution(s) can be expressed in several different dialects in which case one may have the choice of avoiding that contentious -2 completely.
Euler, complex numbers, chaos theory….. -my head hurts !!!!!
- Perhaps we can rearrange one of my equations from my post #16 to :
HEADACHE – BRAIN = PROBLEM
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You ask : “How many lives has finance changed, saved or improved?”
Finance has changed everybody’s lives – For better and for worse – remember the (ongoing) credit crunch ! – Money is a tool to avoid appallingly inefficient continuous bartering – I do love potatoes but I do not want to be paid in spuds!
Money & finance has worked together with technology to drag us from the stone age – sadly all the way to WMD and probable climatic annihilation – I love technology but it too has a dark side – we are now deep in “the age of stupid”
Money and finance are human tools and are not of themselves evil – they do particularly attract human evils such as theft, fraud and greed. People should be paid a premium for their efforts and abilities but how many lawyers and financiers think they are worth over £400 per hour is beyond me. It does not have to be illegal to be wrong ! ….["sharia" disgusts me but our society has forgotten ancient wisdoms. ]
Where has the happiness gone ?
& why has Jersey got such a high suicide rate ???
The credit crunch was caused primarily by greed and fraud – we all pay while various pigs continue to trough.
I wonder if our mutual friend “RT” is really bringing home the bacon, or if he is stuck in a wannabe alpha male fantasy.
Hedinda Sands x.
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Hi again, Reality check #13,
“” to help prop up the ‘baby grands’ of this world “”
chip, chip, chip ?
If JCG want to buy a baby grand with THEIR money; that’s fine by me – I am not into the politics of envy
- At least the Private schools and Hautlieu appear to be giving the Island value for money from the considerable investment. We should DEMAND similar or better value for money from the states schools
- If they are not working; find a solution that does work – EVEN PRIVATISATION !!!!!!
- ooooh did that get your attention ?!!! – Come on education – I don’t care how you do it but THERE IS A PROBLEM and it MUST BE SOLVED !
Money is not limitless – If it needs more – spend it !!! – just plug any leaks and bin any wasters first.
If you are doing good work in education – thank you -and keep it up ! Stick your neck out and suggest how systemic improvements can be made but beware of unintended consequences…..
Did I mention continuous assessment ? – another shiny nail in the coffin of social mobility ! -ohhh Shiny !
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