TV Signal The Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority is receiving reports that some viewers in the south of the Island are still experiencing television reception issues. The mast operator has confirmed that engineers are working to resolve this issue and that normal service will resume as soon as possible. The authority […]
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
The smell of KFC is surrounding our office, send help, or gravy. Actually, just gravy.
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Gov and Union Stand Off Could See Further Action
The deal, which has been rejected by the NASUWT, will see teachers and lecturers paid 1% on top of the allowance received by teachers in places like Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Basildon.
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Fancy Being a Teacher?
This comes after it was announced 22 teachers have resigned and will leave in August.
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Mrs Shelton Takes the Plunge for Red Cross
You can donate still to the fundraiser.
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A Day in the Life of: A UCM Business Administration Student
A feature piece in conjunction with University College Isle of Man.
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Gef’s Morning Brief
Tuesday comes but once a week. Actually so do all the other days.
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Tutor Group Steps up to Support Ukraine
A teacher and her tutor group at Ballakermeen have raised over £1,200 for the British Red Cross’ relief work in Ukraine. Amy Shelton and her Year 11s have raised money through a variety of events including a raffle, bake sale and milkshake stand, all supported by local firms. The students […]
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Changes Proposed to Catchment Areas
The Department of Education, Sport and Culture will submit its plans to Tynwald in June.
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
Scam Alert The police are warning islanders to be vigilant about who they are sending money to. This follows a recent case where a resident sent money to someone they had been conned by. Believing they were in a relationship with this person, they were sending them money for their […]
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
Manx Return Triumphant The Jacksons IOM IOMFA Boys U15’s travelled to Wales to play two friendlies against two Welsh Cymru Premier League academy teams at the weekend. On Saturday, the squad along with their coach Mark Watterson, went to Oswestry on the Welsh border for an evening kick off against […]
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Are We Discriminating Against Home Schoolers?
Julie Edge was questioned on the programme, which links up UCM with the island’s high schools, by MHKs during this morning’s Keys sitting.
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Meet the New Heads
Both new heads are from the island and have held a variety of educational roles, locally and in the UK.
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New Union Offer Includes Longer School Holiday
Members of the NAHT are being balloted on the new offer after 55% of them rejected the DESC’s earlier offer in January.
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Gef’s Morning Brief
Calmness In the run up to exam season UCM has re-introduced calm areas for students to use before entering the exam room. The calm areas provide students with a comfortable space to mentally prepare prior to their exam. The space will include relaxed seating, calming music, refreshments, mindfulness activities and […]
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Teachers to Begin Industrial Action
Members are in a dispute over pay, workload and working practices.
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Coding Club Cleans up at CyberCenturion
The final was at the RAF Museum in London.
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Gov Seeking Provider for School Meal Vouchers
Expressions of interest must be submitted through the Portal by noon on Wednesday April 22.
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A Day in the Life of a UCM Student
A paid feature in partnership with University College Isle of Man.
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Pandemic’s Impact on Education Laid Bare
Education Minister Julie Edge was asked by Daphne Caine (Garff) about a post-pandemic decline amongst Year 6 students before they went to high school.
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Gef’s Morning Brief
Free Lightbulbs Douglas Council says it can provide up to five LED light bulbs for eligible households through a scheme with Manx Utilities. The initiative assists eligible households to reduce their energy usage by providing up to five free LED lightbulbs. By switching to LED, you could save up to […]
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Massive Teacher Majority For Industrial Action
NASUWT members in the Isle of Man have voted overwhelmingly in support of industrial action in a dispute over pay, workload and working practices. Of the ballot papers returned, 84% voted in support of strike action, with 94% in support of action short of strike action, based on a two-thirds turnout. In the last 12 months alone, 88% of Manx […]
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More Students Told to Work From Home
This is due to the continuing high levels of staff absence in the schools.
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UCM Launches Forensics and Criminology Course
Ok it’s not about being Sherlock Holmes but Gef just suits the hat.
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Exam Board Changes for Some GCSEs
Further changes are likely to come in the next few years.
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Teachers Balloted for Industrial Action
The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, has opened a ballot of members in the Isle of Man for potential industrial action over pay, workload and working practices. The ballot, which opened last week and closes on April 4, asks members if they would be willing to take both strike action and action […]
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More Students Told to Stay Home
In letters to parents, headteachers from both schools say online learning will be available.
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Island Parents Missing Out on Support
The Manx gov’s support for childcare falls well short of what is being offered in England, Scotland and Wales.
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Students Asked to Stay at Home
All other students will continue in school as normal.
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DESC Has No Plans to Replace Southern Pool
Dr Haywood asked Ms Edge what progress had been made on the pool, which is known to be facing major financial problems.
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Spotting the Signs of Exploitation
The police are working with schools to help raise awareness of the signs of grooming by drugs gangs.
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Primary School Celebrates 40 Years
The school is holding an open day later this month to celebrate its anniversary.
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Sex Education in 2022
Ahead of some questions about sex education being raised in House of Keys, we have a look at what sex education needs to look like in 2022
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Report Outlines Challenges Facing Island’s Economy
The full report is due to go to Tynwald later this year.
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Recruitment Issues Aren’t Isolated to Here
The DESC has said that the number of teachers leaving roles does seem higher than what would be be expected, particularly within science. The issue was highlighted by former election candidate Gareth Young, himself a former teacher. In a post on Facebook page, Mr Young said he had written to […]
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Teaching Union Rejects Pay Offer
NAHT represents members in every school on the island.
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School Leaders To Vote on Pay Deal
The deal is the result of negotiations with the DESC.
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Where Are the Plans for New High School?
Back in 2018, the then Education Minister Graham Cregeen outlined plans for a new high school for the south of the island.
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Teacher Survey ‘Doesn’t Reflect View of all Staff’
One MHK asked if info released under FoI could be limited.
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Suspected Cases of Bird Flu in Manx Geese
Samples have been to the UK for testing.
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Ballakermeen Students in Global Arts Final
Two winners will be chosen from the finalists.
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Two Schools Ask Years to Stay Home
More disruption for the island’s school children.
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St Ninian’s Tells Year 9 to Stay at Home
Ballakermeen has also asked some students to stay home today and tomorrow.
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The Impact of Omicron
As of today, there are 2,842 confirmed active Covid cases.
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Some Students to Stay at Home
Ballakermeen head teacher Adrienne Burnett has written to parents requesting that two school years stay at home for a day each for the remainder of this week. Mrs Burnett said this is due to ‘high levels of employee absence’. Year 10 will be asked to work from home tomorrow, with […]
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How Happy Are Our Teachers?
A survey sent to staff in the Department of Education, Sport and Culture paints a very mixed picture of happiness at work and faith in decisions taken by the island’s educational leaders. A summary of the results of the Have Your Say Pulse Survey 5: Leadership for the Department of […]
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Schools Are Ready If They Need to go Virtual
A plan for virtual learning was rolled out in the previous lockdowns.
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We Don’t Record Wasted Food
Ms Edge said that menu changes involve ‘a lot of planing with local suppliers’.
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We Don’t Keep CO2 Records
The monitors were placed in schools as a way to monitor air flow.
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Gov to Introduce School Holiday Food Vouchers
The vouchers will cover the Christmas Holiday period.
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Ballakermeen puts contingency plans in place
Due to high levels of absence, Ballakermeen High School have set up a contingency plan, in the event that staff attendance rates deteriorate further. The plan will ask students in years 10-13 to remain at home on the last two days of the term. In a statement posted on the […]
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Teachers Telling Students to Cut Out Meat?
Education Minister also faces questions on what is a balance diet?
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Only Half of Students Wearing Face Coverings
Face coverings are expected in high schools and recommended for some older primary school children.
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Face Coverings in Educational Settings
The gov have announced that from tomorrow (Tuesday 30 November), all secondary and UCM students, staff and visitors will be expected to wear face coverings in all of the Island’s educational settings. Gov spokesperson said: ‘This includes attendance at concerts, prize-givings and after school events. Face coverings will be provided […]
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School to Reopen After Bomb Hoax
Police say they cannot comment further at this time.
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Census Due in February
Statistician Paul Craine’s figures show a continuing decline in the school population.
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School Meals are ‘Nutritious and of High Quality’
Dr Michelle Haywood had inquired into the nutritional value of primary school meals.
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We Won’t Publish School CO2 Levels
We have submitted an FoI requesting that the gov publishes this data.
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Gef’s Morning Brief
Unemployment The number of people registered unemployed fell again in October, down 39 to 326. This has also dropped by 471 people compared to the same month last year (October 2020). The unemployment rate for October 2021 is 0.8%, down from 0.9% in September 2021. The International Labour Organisation estimates […]
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Report Highlights Lessons for Safeguarding Young People
You can read the full report here.
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Wardens Leave the Calf
Manx Wildlife Trust’s wardens live and work on the Calf through the summer months.
Image credit: MWT
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Keys Preview: When Will The Prom Works End?
Eight questions for Ministers this week.
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Kids on Covid
We speak to three students about Covid and mask wearing in schools.
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Plans for Ramsey Flood Wall Submitted
The DoI’s plans have already attracted controversy.
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Planning Continues for School Jab Rollout
Almost 2,000 12-17-year-olds have been jabbed since the gov began offering them a jab.
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Face Coverings ‘Strongly Advised’ for Schools
Onchan MHK Julie Edge is the new Education, Sport and Culture Minister.
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School Tells Students to Work from Home
The school is also ‘strongly encouraging’ all staff, students and visitors to wear masks in school.
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Sending Students Home ‘a Last Resort’
So far this term, 358 positive cases of Covid (328 students and 30 staff) have been confirmed within schools and UCM
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Chloe’s Fundraising Celebrated at Westminister
The British Citizen Youth Award recognises exceptional under 18’s who have positively impacted their communities