Education Bill progresses despite concerns

Legislation that would establish education centres outside of school premises, which the minister said would better support the needs of all pupils, has progressed despite concerns over safeguards.

The House of Keys passed the second reading of the Education (Amendment) Bill, which aims to update existing 2001 laws.

Education Minister Daphne Caine said the key themes of the legislation were alternative provision of education, better support for looked after children, and changes to admissions and school capacity.

However, some MHKs voiced concerns on the safeguards included in the legislation for alternative provision centres.

Those facilities would see pupils who struggled in a conventional setting referred by their school to the centre to be taught under a personalised plan, while remaining registered with their school.

Lawrie Hooper claimed the bill "not salvageable" and questioned where the funding would come from for the creation of the Alternative Provision Centres.

He also argued as the facilities were not considered schools, existing education legislation which covers protections for teachers, such as the ability to confiscate items, and the requirement for independent inspections would not apply to them.

Part of the Bill would enable a school to turn a pupil away if they were too violent, however, Joney Faragher argued it could turn those children - who she said had likely experienced trauma - away from education altogether.

She also voiced concerns about amendments that would enable headteachers to close a year group from those in the catchment area on capacity grounds, and questioned which schools children would have to go to instead, how they get there and what the impact would be.

However, Chris Thomas said it was an "incredibly important" piece of legislation and it recognised that the island needed to provide for those growing up who were affected by trauma.

Caine argued that alternative provision centres would ensure the wellbeing of all students without compromising their educational needs.

Restricting admissions to schools would not happen unless it was "absolutely necessary", she said.

"This Bill represents a considerable step forward in modernising education legislation, ensuring that our policies are fit for purpose and responsive to the needs of children and young people on the Isle of Man," she added.

The second reading was passed with 18 MHKs in favour and six against.

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