Dept of Ed responds to criticism from head teacher

The Department of Education and Children has responded to criticism from an outgoing head teacher at one of the Island's high schools.

David Trace is due to retire from Ramsey Grammar School at Christmas, after 18 years at the helm.

At a recent prizegiving event he said changes to the GCSE system went against the findings of a public consultation.

He also said the recent withdrawal of direct financial management at the school, meaning the head no longer had control over school budgets, had had a negative impact.

Mr Trace concluded by criticising what he called the data-driven, results-obsessed culture the Isle of Man appears to have adopted from England.

The Department of Education and Children has responded to Mr Trace's criticisms, saying 59% of people who responded to the consultation felt qualifications offered in Manx schools should be as politically independent of other governments as possible, not all governments.

It also points out the Cambridge University-provided IGCSEs are used in 140 different countries and are not the same as exams provided by exam boards for the UK government.

The department also says direct financial management has not been removed from schools 'in any meaningful sense', saying only some budgets - for catering and cleaning, for example - have been centralised.

It also claims the curriculum here has at its heart the aim to develop rounded individuals whose attitudes are as important as their attainment.