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
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Bomb Hoax Led to School Evacuation
The school will reopening tomorrow morning as normal.
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Preparing For a New School Year
After six weeks, the island’s schools reopen on Wednesday.
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Changes to School Buses
Some buses have new routes for the start of the new school year.
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Braddan Road Scheme Delayed
Work will continue outside Braddan primary school when it reopens on Wednesday.
Image: Google Maps
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UCM To Host Graduation Ceremony
It is believed that UCM was the only higher education provider in Britain, which hosted a live, non-socially distanced ceremony last year.
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Union Asks Candidates to Take Election Pledge
The NAHT’s pledge forms part of a wider manifesto for education produced by the union called ‘Our Schools. Their future. Your choice.’
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Your Grades Won’t Define You
Sam was rejected from two university courses but still turned out alright.
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Gov Needs to Clearly Outline School Plans
The EAG has asked for more detail as to why under 12s aren’t required to isolate when travelling.
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Are We Missing Action On Young People’s Issues?
The Children’s Commissioner role has existed in the British Isles since 2001 and MHK Daphne Caine says it’s time we bring it to the Isle of Man.
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DESC Letter Responds to Parents’ Concerns
Advocate Ian Kermode wrote to Graham Kinrade with concerns brought to him by parents.
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
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North American Manx Awards
The award recognised the achievements of children and young people in areas such as language, the arts and music.
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Family Library Story Takes Another Twist
The future of the Family Library remains at risk.
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Family Library to Seek Long Term Funding Solution
There had been a fear the library would close as its income was squeezed.
Image Credit: Family Library – Facebook
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Family Library Given 12 Month Reprieve
The support will be made available via the Bona Vacantia Fund, which is managed by the Treasury.
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Solving School Overcrowding Needs to be a Priority
Without the mobile classrooms, the school has permanent capacity for 1,370 students, meaning it would be about 400 students over subscribed without them.
Credit: Google Street View
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Update on School Covid Situation
A pupil from a primary school on the Island has today tested positive for COVID-19 and theheadteacher has contacted all parents/carers to update them. The school remains open and contact tracing is underway. A further student attending St Ninian’s High School has received a positive PCR test on Tuesday (29 June), following the […]
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Update on St Ninian’s High School
Following a member of staff at St Ninian’s High School testing positive for Covid over the weekend, a student attending the school has today tested positive and contact tracing is continuing. The gov said: ‘Mitigations to help prevent the spread of Covid are already in place at the school. This includes reminders on the […]
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We Trust Parents to be Honest About Test Results
Dr Alex Allinson discusses home testing and home schooling.
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School to Take Precautionary Measures
There is currently no evidence of spread to any of the students.
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Replacement Exam Grades due for August Release
With all exams for Years 11 and 13 students cancelled as a result of the rona, schools have been forced to follow new grading systems.
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POC One Year On
It’s been one year since eight acquaintances sat on Zoom to figure out how to raise awareness and educate the island on matters to do with racism – It’s been a year since POC IOM was born and they’ve achieved a LOT in 12 months. Here they tell their story of their journey so far.
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Lateral Flow Testing for School Students
Chief Minister Howard Quayle confirmed the roll out of testing in Tynwald today.
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Bunscoill Helping UK Students Learn Manx
The UK children are learning Manx as part of an annual competition called the uTalk Language Games.
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Children Benefit from Paul’s Marathon Effort
Journalist Paul Speller has raised £1,000 for Henry Bloom Noble School to improve children’s education and wellbeing.
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Alyssa is Headteacher for a Day
When the children of Laxey Primary School go to school on Thursday morning, they will have a new headteacher greeting them at the gate as Alyssa Rees takes charge. Alyssa, who is in Year 4, won a raffle to determine who would be headteacher for a day at the annual […]
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
Disabled Sports Boost A project that enables children with disabilities to try new sports at the NSC has been given £3,000 to buy new equipment. Currently around 80 children from 13 schools take part in Manx Sport and Recreation’s (MSR) Disability School Sports Programme that started in 2017. It is run by […]
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School Uniforms Add Financial Pressure to Families
Education Minister Dr Allinson said: ‘Schools are mindful of the financial burden that uniforms can place upon families.’
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Review Praises Parents After Man Convicted for Possessing Indecent Images
Before his conviction, the man had an association with the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) and in 2016, he was commissioned to paint a mural at St Mary’s Primary School in Douglas.
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Paul’s 100KM Challenge to Raise Funds for School
Paul Speller is putting his and hopefully many other’s money where his mouth is.
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Meet St Thomas’ New Headteacher
Chris Kirk will officially take up his role on September 1.
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Manx Students’ Code for Success
The team was competing in a UK-wide CyberSecurity competition which pits the best young coding minds against each other.
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Uni Students Can be Jabbed Here and in UK
The reciprocal health agreement means GP records can be shared, enabling students to receive doses in either jurisdiction.
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Improving Learning for Those With Literary Difficulties
People have until 17 May to submit their views and anyone who needs additional help can contact the Manx Dyslexia Association.
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Reflections on Home Learning
As Lockdown 3 draws to a close and schools prepare to reopen on Monday, father-of-two and journalist Paul Speller reflects on a year of on/off home learning and warns that there is much more to do before we can say the kids are alright.
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Return to School Begins
Schools closed a month ago at the start of Lockdown 3.
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Ardwhallan Services Under Review
The centre is based on and around West Baldwin Reservoir, better known as Injerbreck.
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Phased Return to Begin with Years 11 and 13
The current proposals will see different groups return first in primary and secondary schools with the situation under constant review.
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Schools Could Reopen After Easter Holiday
Schools could reopen after the Easter holidays if the number of coronavirus cases continues to fall in the island.
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Uni Students Should See a Return to Normality
Under the gov’s exit strategy, there should be no border restrictions in place by the end of September, when many of the island’s students will go off to university.
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Assessments to Replace Exams
Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson has told Gef what plans are being made for this and next year’s students. He has also hinted at changes being made to which exam boards the island’s schools follow.
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School Return Could be Phased if Necessary
Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson talks to Gef about schools reopening, the possibility of Covid tests for students and protecting vulnerable children from the virus.