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States Greffe: Scrutiny
Senator T.A. Vallois Minister for Education Education Department PO Box 142 Highlands Campus St. Saviour
JE4 8QJ
25th January 2019 Dear Minister,
JCG International Pilot Programme
I am writing to you in order to gather further information in relation to the grant that was made to Jersey College for Girls in order to establish an international pilot programme recruiting students from China and Hong Kong.
First and foremost, I would be grateful if you could confirm the timeline for the development of this policy and the underlying principles behind it. Whilst the decision was signed by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, the Panel is concerned that it was not informed at any stage of the intention to bring this programme forward, nor was the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel advised about the decision of the investment appraisal board.
I would also be grateful if you could provide the Panel with an overview of the following details of the scheme:
- The fostering arrangements for any young people recruited as part of the scheme;
- What consideration has been given to the impact this scheme will have on the resources in the Children's Services, especially in light of continuing pressure to improve the work of the service;
- How the scheme will ensure the young people recruited are given suitable engagement and activities whilst not attending school (i.e. weekends); and,
- The scheme's financial and economic advantages to the Island.
The Panel would also like to know if the Minister has a policy position on establishing full boarding schools within the Island, and in particular within states funded schools. Furthermore, I would like to ask if the Minister has a position on a States funded school providing what is in effect an entirely private education for these students.
I would be grateful of your response by Thursday 7th February at 5:00pm. Upon receipt, the Panel intends to publish your response on the States Assembly website along with this letter.
Yours Sincerely,
Deputy Rob Ward
Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Scrutiny Office | States Greffe | Morier House | St Helier | Jersey | JE1 1DD Tel: 01534 441080 | Fax: 01534 441077 | email: scrutiny@gov.je
Website: statesassembly.gov.je/scrutiny
Minister for Education
Cyril Le Marquand House St Helier, Jersey, JE4 8QT Tel: +44 (0)1534 448133
Deputy Rob Ward
Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel Scrutiny Office
States Greffe
Morier House
St Helier
JE1 1DD
7th February 2019 Dear Deputy Ward ,
JCG International Pilot Programme
Thank you for your letter of 25th January 2019 seeking further information which I am pleased to provide below.
The timeline and principles for the development of this pilot programme are as below:
The JCG Six Year Strategy has a commitment to create a strong international focus indicated by our students and staff actively seeking to "engage with the global community to extend knowledge, understanding and a desire to explore". To achieve this JCG has developed an international mindset and is continuing to develop a range of partnerships with international schools, an extensive trip and international programme and student led initiatives.
One of the key initiatives of this international focus is to enable international students to attend JCG for their senior school education.
October 2015 - during a visit to China by a delegation of head teachers from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, Carl Howarth signed a partnership agreement with Shanghai Girls' School No. 3. This partnership lead to a visit to Shanghai and the school, by students and staff of JCG and a visit to Jersey by students and staff of Shanghai No. 3.
August 2016 – Establishment of a summer school
September 2017 - MOU signed between Jersey College for Girls, JCG Foundation, Minister for Education and Minister for Treasury and Resources
June 2018 - Summary Business Case requesting funds submitted to The Economic and Productivity Growth Drawdown Provision (EPGDP)
August 2018 - Contingency Allocation Revised Policy implemented
November 2018 – Minister for Treasury and Resources approves the £100k funding for the Pilot Programme
The principles behind it are to expand international links in a manner to target the limited level of international mind-set within the Island's students and in parallel generate a sizable income to benefit general education provision with a focus on students with limited means. The investment will be in the JCG Internationalism programme, run through the JCG Foundation. The JCG Foundation is separate to JCG and not part of the States of Jersey. It is currently incorporated under the Law of Jersey entitled "Loi (1862) sur les teneures en fidéicommis et l'incorporation d'associations" and has applied to become a charity under the new charities Law.
The objectives of the JCG Foundation are:
- Advancement of the education of students at Jersey College for Girls, Jersey and the Jersey College for Girls Preparatory School, Jersey (together the "Schools").
- Widening access to the Schools through financial and other support, including in particular whole or part fee bursaries, for children able to benefit from a JCG education whose parents would otherwise be unable to afford the fees.
- Advancing the education of students in Jersey or from other countries, other than those at JCG, through organising, supporting and financing educational courses and related activities at the Schools for their benefit.
- Leadership of the whole JCG alumnae community, wherever its members may be, with the aim of developing its role as a body in Jersey, in particular by encouraging both its active involvement in, and support for, giving effect to all the objects of the Association and its wide engagement in the civil society of Jersey.
This will be a pilot programme which can be replicated across fee paying schools, utilising the links made, when established. The JCG Foundation itself is seeking to replicate and expand existing successes focused on recruiting full time international students primarily via targeted school relationships and high profile summer programmes. An initial investment in a visit to a school in China, has resulted in beneficial student interactions and a sequence of income generation.
The overview of the details you requested are as below:
- The fostering arrangements for any young people recruited as part of the scheme;
Before embarking on the project JCG liaised closely with all relevant Jersey agencies including the Safeguarding Partnership Board; Children's Services; Fostering and Adoption Services, MASH and Social Services. This programme has been set up and arranged with the full knowledge and support of all the relevant agencies.
Any child under the age of 16 who is staying with a family for more than 28 days is only allowed to stay if they have entered into a Private Foster Care arrangement. The Homestay arrangements for the International students studying at JCG are in line with the Children (Jersey) Law 2002, (Revised Edition as at 1 January 2017) relating to Private Arrangements for Fostering Children. The Jersey families enter into a Private Fostering arrangement with the International parents which is overseen by Social services.
Social services meet regularly with the students and private foster care families to ensure all homestay provision adheres to the relevant safeguarding procedures.
- What consideration has been given to the impact this scheme will have on the resources in the Children's Services, especially in light of continuing pressure to improve the work of the service;
There will be an impact for the service to assess and offer support as required, so greater numbers will mean a bigger impact. Initially the total number of overseas students will be no more than 10. The Children's service meet the student at regular intervals (approximately every six weeks) in line with policy.
- How the scheme will ensure the young people recruited are given suitable engagement and activities whilst not attending school (i.e. weekends); and,
The JCG Foundation carefully explain to prospective families the requirement for worthwhile activities beyond school hours. The students are fully engaged in a programme devised by the family with whom they are residing. It is important to understand that they are part of the family and so join in whatever the family is doing. The JCG Foundation are in frequent communication with the families and the families and students report that this is working very well.
- The scheme's financial and economic advantages to the Island.
Achievement of target full time international students of 40 per annum from 2022 onwards (38 as a result of IAB funding).
As of 2023 this will generate income as follows:
- £423k income/year for home stay which will be spent locally on housing the students within the Jersey community and families.
- £479k income/year into JCG and the JCG Foundation, this funding would be used to support:
- investment into improved school facilities
- 3 new science labs
- Fund 5 JCG scholarships/year
- Expand available places on holiday revision programmes open to all Jersey students, with a target of 20% of places being under scholarships
The Panel would also like to know if the Minister has a policy position on establishing full boarding schools within the Island, and in particular within states funded schools.
I do not have a policy position on establishing full boarding schools within the Island. The Jersey International Pilot Programme is a pilot programme which will enable the department to assess the overall benefits of International students studying full time within the Island.
I would like to ask if the Minister has a position on a States funded school providing what is in effect an entirely private education for these students.
My position is in accordance with Education Department Policy "Access to publicly funded education" which states that:
"Third Country Nationals who enter Jersey on a General Visitor Visa, Child Visitor Visa, Student Visitor Visa or Student Visa will be liable to pay full fees and are unable to study at a wholly maintained school (non-fee paying States of Jersey School)."
Yours sincerely,
Senator T.A. Vallois Minister for Education