Jun 02 - GSD Announces Policy On Secondary Education And Training
The GSD has announced a series of detailed proposals to reform and improve Gibraltar’s education system. At a press conference this morning at the party’s HQ in College Lane, GSD members said that, if elected, the proposed changes would take the education and training of Gibraltar’s youth “to another level.”
The party would:
- Set up a Secondary Education Campus at the Rooke site
- Move Bishop Fitzgerald and Governor’s Meadow Schools to the vacated Westside complex.
- Set up a Careers and Support Advisory Centre
- Identify skills gaps and encourage students to pursue degrees that lead to “in demand” careers
- Conduct widespread consultation exercise to identify benefits of single-sex and co-educational solutions
Party members said that the new facilities would be partly funded by the sale of land freed up by the move of Bishop Fitzgerald and Bayside schools and was not a “vanity project” but a focus on Gibraltar’s “true priorities.”
Isobel Ellul-Hammond, who is leading on this policy, said: “We believe that significant changes to our education system should be made, in partnership with all relevant stakeholders, in order to meet the educational challenges ahead, to make our system the best it can possibly be and one of the best in the world.
“The GSD is the only party with the breadth of vision which can deliver on Education. The GSD is the only party which can deliver future prosperity and security to Gibraltar.”
The following detailed breakdown of the policy was provided by the party:
Executive Summary
The GSD’s vision is to provide Gibraltar with an Education system that equates with the top education systems in the world in order to fulfil every child’s potential. Young people must leave school with the skills and qualifications they need to secure a job, apprenticeship or university place.
Now is the time for Educational reform, to provide Gibraltar with the necessary leadership to elevate and then maintain the standards being achieved by students in Gibraltar.
There is currently no coherent training programme for students who wish to follow a less academic or vocational path. The lack of a proper and dedicated careers advice service results in a failure to fill the appropriate skills gaps that exist in the workplace now and in the future. The elimination of all quality vocational training has left many parents and school leavers with no certainty as to how their future learning and training will be managed.
Objectives
• Equalise subject choice at Secondary Level: same curricula, boards and subjects for ALL students age 11 to 18
• Broaden the educational & vocational scope, with the potential to mix both, for 16 + learning
• A need for REAL links with the labour market sectors and dedicated Careers Advisors to identify and fill future skills gaps in Gibraltar
• A need for a dedicated support & counselling service for our young people
• A recognition that a number of school buildings are no longer ‘fit for purpose’ and need moving to a new site (Bayside Comprehensive, Bishop Fitzgerald & Governor’s Meadow schools, the College)
These have been arrived at through extensive consultation with stakeholders.
Policy
1. To set up a Secondary Education Campus at the Rooke site with education and training in accredited courses and an equalisation of subjects.
2. Co-Educational Sixth Form & Training College:
(a) age 16 + A’ levels offered, with entrance criteria.
(b) Age 16 + vocational courses that are accredited and carry qualifications, such as GNVQs. We will provide training courses in tourism and hospitality sector, expand on health & social care, and explore gaming IT & legislation courses, and other courses needed to train young Gibraltarians for our economy of the future.
(c) Provide academic links for Construction Training Centre and GibDock where necessary, and to other apprenticeship schemes where necessary.
(d) Continue with adult evening education programme and expand it to offer continuous professional training courses in partnership with industry.
3. Bishop Fitzgerald and Governor’s Meadow Schools to move into vacated Westside complex.
4. Careers and Support Advisory Centre:
(a) Dedicated staff will highlight career pathways and ensure diversification of work to cater for Gibraltar’s labour market needs. Careers advisor/teacher(s) will collaborate with public & private sector to identify skills gaps in Gibraltar; advice given on University & distance learning courses; in touch with private/public sector for trainee programmes & apprenticeship schemes, working closely with the Employment Department.
(b) An in-house counsellor(s) where students make appointments for pastoral needs, liaising with Social Services too. Youth Workers to work with teachers to help organise delivery on ‘Citizenship & Personal Social & Health Education’ curriculum, bespoke to Gibraltar.
5. Where skills gaps in the community are identified, incentivise students with a ‘top-up’ grant or sponsorship, to take degrees that will qualify them to fill that position locally (e.g. engineers and accountants).
6. Food Hall & Canteens: provides canteen service for students and staff alike
Key Benefits
1. By providing new facilities and taking this holistic approach to secondary education we intend to raise the profile of education. We will energise the educators by allowing them to participate fully in this process working together and taking on board their ideas and advice.
2. Students will be provided equality in subject choice and a broadening of educational scope, with a structured and dedicated approach to careers advice, which in turn will benefit Gibraltar’s economy.
3. Having all students on one campus ensures ease of access for the students to same curriculum, teachers and facilities and all available learning, training and careers advice therein.
4. Offers diversity of teaching for teachers all on the same site.
5. Frees up space at three sites, up to 18,000 sq m, for existing Primary Schools to expand where necessary or for commercial use.
6. Frees up space at Bayside site to allow expansion of Victoria Stadium to potentially achieve Category 4 status at a later stage if necessary.
7. Lunch bags could be a thing of the past!
Consultation
1. A decision on the different models for a Secondary Campus within the site, exploring the following options:
a. A Co-Educational Comprehensive, a Co-Educational Sixth Form & Training College, for both academic and vocational courses, a separate Careers and Support Advisory Centre and Canteens, where hot food will be served. All facilities and teachers will be shared
(To give you an idea of the set up we are exploring, please check the Nottingham Academy website: http://www.nottinghamacademy.org/home/)
b. A Co-Educational Comprehensive, a Co-Educational Sixth Form & Training College, for both academic and vocational courses, a separate Careers and Support Advisory Centre and Canteens, where hot food will be served. All facilities shared and only A’Level & GNVQ teachers to be shared
c. Two Single Sex Comprehensives, a Co-Educational Sixth Form & Training College, for both academic and vocational courses, a separate Careers and Support Advisory Centre and Canteens, where hot food will be served. All facilities and teachers will be shared
d. Two Single Sex Comprehensives, a Co-Educational Sixth Form & Training College, for both academic and vocational courses, a separate Careers and Support Advisory Centre and Canteens, where hot food will be served. All facilities shared and only A’Level & GNVQ teachers to be shared
e. Two Single Sex Comprehensive, a Co-Educational Training College, for vocational courses only, a separate Careers and Support Advisory Centre and Canteens, where hot food will be served. Placing the three educational establishments as they are in to the Rooke site where only facilities will be shared
2. The desirability to change age boundaries, as in UK: schools teaching as per Key Stages (Key Stages 1 & 2 at Primary level, Key Stages 3 & 4 and A’ Levels at Secondary level) potentially providing space and room for manoeuvre at Primary schools
This is a consultation exercise and feedback from all stakeholders, including educationalists and parents, via www.GSDLive.gi, social media and the GSD Facebook page or the GSD Office, is welcome.
