Funding of Secondary Education to be reviewed by Scrutiny
22 June 2023
Today, the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel (the Panel) has launched a review into Secondary Education Funding.
The review's main objective is to establish the requirements of the secondary education system in Jersey and assess whether the funding for secondary education is sufficient to meet these requirements. The review will consider how this funding is impacted by other contextual factors, including:
- Student wellbeing,
- Teacher and school staff remuneration, recruitment and retention,
- The 14+ secondary transfer system, and
- Public expectations of what secondary schools should provide.
The review will also aim to analyse the outcomes of the secondary education system and explore the potential link between these outcomes (for example student qualifications) and the funding allocated to secondary schools.
In recent years, there has been a deficit reported for Education, which was largely attributable to secondary schools. The Panel wishes to examine how certain changes which have been brought in have impacted this funding situation. These changes include additional Government funding which has been allocated for inclusion, and the 'Jersey Funding Formula for Schools' which was published in October 2022.
To inform its review, the Panel will be liaising with the Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Inna Gardiner, as well as various industry professionals. The Panel will also be holding Pop-Up stands from 12-2 in St Helier on 27 June (Brooks Street) and 12 July (Charing Cross) to speak to members of the public about their expectations of secondary school funding. The Panel has launched a survey to collect further evidence and views from members of the public which can be accessed here.
The Panel aims to present its report, which will include key recommendations for Ministers, in September 2023.
Chair of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel, Deputy Catherine Curtis, said:
"We decided to launch this review to ascertain whether the levels of funding for secondary schools on the Island are appropriate and allow for all of the elements that Islanders expect secondary school to provide. We welcome views from those who work in, attend, or care for those who attend secondary school in Jersey as we want to make sure we are capturing Islanders' views on this important topic."
To share your thoughts about secondary funding, please email scrutiny@gov.je or take the Panel's survey.
