Response 165160603

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Introduction

Are you responding on behalf of an organisation?

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Yes
No

Do you live on the Isle of Man?

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No

May we publish your response?

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(Required)
Yes, you can publish my response in full
Yes, you may publish my response anonymously
No, please do not publish my response

Religious Education

1. Do you agree that Religious Education should be treated the same as any other curriculum subject through the curriculum regulations?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Unsure
Your comments
As long as there is a wide variety and not just Christian beliefs taught.

2. Do you agree that the role of the Religious Education Advisory Committee is no longer required?

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Yes
No
Unsure

Education Council

3. Do you think that the Education Council has a role in providing advice to the Department?

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Yes
No
Unsure
If yes, what do you think the role would include?
My issue here is that the current board do not represent the thoughts of the parents - my concern is that is the department appointed a representative this too does not reflect the opinion of parents fairly.

Inspection and quality assurance of pre-school settings

4. Do you agree that pre-school education should be quality assured?

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Yes
No
Unsure

Regulation and registration

5. Should the Department provide a list of registered tutors and educational establishments?

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Yes
No
Unsure
Your comments
As long as it doesn’t drive up the cost - although one must question why tutors are required at the number they are if our schools are so good.

6. Should all providers of education, particularly to children, be suitably qualified to teach the subject on offer and police checked?

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Yes
No
Unsure
Your comments
There has to be an element of trust but unfortunately this is the kind of place unsavoury characters lurk!

Governing Bodies

7. Is the role of Governors in schools clearly understood and recognised by parents?

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Yes
No
Unsure
Your comments
I can’t see how a department appointed governor can be impartial.

8. Do you have a recommendation on the number of governors and how long they should serve on the governing body?

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Yes
No

Home education

9. Should the Department seek evidence from home educators on the education they are giving to their children?

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Yes
No
Unsure
Please state your reasons.
Home schooling is a very personal choice and I believe parents may choose this route as they are unhappy with the education department or system for whatever reason so then making it compulsory to report to them may be unacceptable or unnecessary from their point of view. I can understand the statement you are making but ultimately it’s a parental responsibility to educate your child and if you choose to home school then that should be allowed without obstacles.

School Attendance

10. Do you agree with this proposal?

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Yes
No
Unsure

Special Educational Needs

11. Is clarity around access to services for children with SEN needed?

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Yes
No
Unsure

12. Does the role of educational psychologists need further clarification?

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Yes
No
Unsure

Catchment Areas

13. Should children always attend their catchment area school unless their needs cannot be met by the school?

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Yes
No
Unsure

Behaviour

14. Should the same behaviour standards for students that apply while ‘at the school’ be applicable when they are attending school-based events such as trips?

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Yes
No
Unsure

15. Who do you feel is responsible for dealing with inappropriate behaviour of students outside the school environment?

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Parents / guardians
Teachers
Both
Other
Please state your reasons.
Sometimes behaviour outside of school is a symptom of something happening at school and vice versa especially as most students live close to each other and behaviours spill outside of school hours - good communication and relationships between parents and teachers is essential for showing a united front on behaviour and social expectations.

Final thoughts

Please state any additional comments you have regarding this consultation.

As it stands I feel the education department do not consult with parents enough and to be quite frank listen to their employees either. Everything feels like a tick box exercise rather than actually listening taking on board and reacting to feedback. Decisions are made and then everyone is told and like it or lump it is the attitude. This has happened a few times with our kids and it’s purely the department not the school. We love our school, teachers and head the kids are happy well educated and disciplined but that is thanks to the staff and our relationship not in my opinion the department.