Hooper seeks to force publication of school validation reports and framework

Ramsey MHK to use Tynwald powers in bid to compel education department to release unredacted school reports and internal framework

A Tynwald motion from Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper is calling for greater transparency around how the Island’s schools are externally assessed – including the publication of full validation reports and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture’s (DESC) Quality Assurance Framework.

The motion, due to be debated in the June 2025 sitting, proposes that all finalised external validation reports be published centrally on the DESC website within one month of being issued to schools or services.

It also calls for the Quality Assurance Framework underpinning the process to be made publicly available.

In a further step, Mr Hooper seeks to invoke a provision under the Tynwald Proceedings Act 1876 to compel the department to produce complete, unredacted copies of all such reports currently in its possession – as well as the framework document – by 3 July 2025.

These would be submitted to the President of Tynwald, who would then either lay them before the court or circulate them to Members.

The move follows ongoing criticism over DESC’s refusal to release the full Etio reports, which assess school performance under a three-year external validation contract.

The department has instead published one-page summaries for each school, but the level of detail varies.

Education Minister Daphne Caine has defended the current approach, arguing that full publication could risk identifying individuals, harm staff morale, and undermine the integrity of the review process.

While she has now indicated a willingness to publish the framework itself – following a previously rejected Freedom of Information request – she maintains that full reports should remain confidential.

Mrs Caine has also declined to disclose the cost of the Etio contract, citing commercial sensitivity.

In a written question earlier this year, she asked to be excused from providing the financial details, arguing that doing so would be contrary to the Island’s interests when negotiating future contracts.

The minister said her focus was on ensuring the reviews deliver value for money and improve educational outcomes, and questioned the public interest in revealing the figures.

Mr Hooper, who also serves as Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, has criticised the lack of transparency. The department’s stance has also prompted wider public comment, with some questioning the rationale for withholding the full reports.

Tynwald is expected to debate Mr Hooper’s motion during its June sitting.