Restructuring Secondary Education

1. RestructuringSecondary Education Providing Opportunities for All

2. What do we mean by ‘restructuring education’? • The secondary education system in Grand Cayman is being dramatically changed for September 2010 • Students will take exams in Year 11 instead of 12 • There will be two new high schools in Grand Cayman—each for students in Years 7 – 11 • A new Year 12 programme will provide new technical, vocational and academic options • The aim is to improve student success

3. So what? • What does this mean for Cayman Brac? • Will it really make a difference in the problems we see in education? • What does student success mean, anyway?

4. What do we mean by success in at high school? • The focus has to be on success for all • A major focus of our secondary restructuring is providing more opportunities for success for all students, not just the most academic

5. How do we define success? • The traditional definition is 5 “high-grade” or O-level equivalent passes at grades A* - C or I – III • By this measure, the historical average at CBHS over the past few years is just under 50%; at John Gray High School, the historical average is about 24% (last year, 37%) • However, there are opportunities to get these qualifications in ways other than traditional exams

6. National Qualifications Framework • Underpins the secondary restructuring • Provides a clear and rationalized system for evaluating qualifications • Based on international standards • Provides a way of recognizing and explaining the qualifications students have earned

7. National Qualifications Framework

8. Opportunities for all • Successful high school completion is defined as 5 Level 2 passes • The traditional measure is through CXC/GCSE examinations • There are a range of newer qualifications that meet that standard but allow us to provide a more customized learning experience, particularly in technical and vocational areas

9. Secondary Transition inGrand Cayman • Serious concern about student performance and school discipline • Student numbers are over 1000 per school • Some benefits from George Hicks reorganization but not enough improvement in teaching and learning • Historical average success rate in GCM is less than 25% (5 or more passes)

10. So what does the change look like? GHC Years 7 - 9 will change to JGHS Years 10 - 12

11. Transition Aims • Development of two ‘all-through’ (Years 7 – 11) high schools, Clifton Hunter HS to serve Eastern districts and John Gray HS to serve Western districts • Organization of schools into academies, so that students have a small and stable home base • Shift to exams at the end of Year 11, followed by mandatory Year 12 pathways for further education • Introduction of a comprehensive set of pathways for all students in Year 12, including completely new VoCaT (Vocational, Career and Technical) training programmes • Enhanced support for Careers advisory and guidance throughout all schools

12. Why change? • To help ensure better outcomes for students • To build better relationships within schools • To provide high quality, externally accredited vocational, career and technical education • To create a Year 12 programme that provides a bridge from school to the future for students, whether they are moving straight into work or are headed for highly demanding academic environments

13. What does the new Year 12 Programme look like? • Advanced Placement Diploma Programme • Foundation Programme • Further Education Programme • Dual-entry programmes • A-Levels • UCCI Certificate Programmes (limited enrollment possible based on space and demand) • Associate Degree Programmes

14. Advanced Placement Diploma Programme • Students study for AP/IB qualifications • AP is transitional to full IB Diploma status • AP also allows portable, independent modules • Applicants must have at least 5 high-grade passes, including English and Maths, at A*-B/I-II grades • This is a straightforwardly academic stream, aimed at the highest achieving students in the school

15. Foundation Programme • Allows second chances for students to resit exams (based on grades in Year 11; e.g. resit exams where students have earned D/IV grades) • Students may also take new subjects, based on individual counseling • Applicants will usually have shown success in some Level 2 subjects • Programme will offer a focused programme of accessible subjects: • English • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies • In addition, there will also be access to basic literacy and numeracy programmes • Foundation courses may be combined with vocational programmes

16. Further Education Programme (Programme offered at two levels) • Level 2 VoCaT (Vocational, Career and Technical) education programmes • Aimed at students who have at least 3 or 4 Level 1 passes (at least 3 or 4 passes at grades D/IV or below) • BTEC First Diploma schemes (equal 2 – 4 GCSE passes) • Work experience component (at least 1 day per week) • Possible combinations with Foundation (resit) programme

17. Further Education Programme (Programme offered at two levels) • Level 1 VoCaT (Vocational, Career and Technical) Basic Technical Skills Programmes • Planned for students who have had limited academic success • Focus on ensuring basic literacy, numeracy, ICT skills • BTEC Introductory Schemes • Strong work experience component

18. VoCaT Programmes • Level 2 • Business • Creative Media Production • Health and Social Care • IT • Motor Vehicle (IMI) • Level 1 • Business, Retail and Administration • Hospitality, Travel and Tourism • Sport and Leisure • Motor Vehicle (IMI)

19. Issues • Graduation • Students will graduate at the end of Year 12 from their home high school, either JGHS or CHHS. • Programme location • Year 7 – 11 students in the John Gray High School catchment area will start in September 2010 at the current JGHS campus. • Year 7 – 11 students in the Clifton Hunter High School catchment area will start in September 2010 at the current George Hicks campus, and will move into the new Clifton Hunter Campus as soon as it is complete. • The Year 12 programme will be located on the George Hicks campus, separate from any Year 7 – 11 groups. • Uniform • Each high school will have its own uniform to be worn by all students, with each academy group identified by distinctive insignia. • Year 12 students will have their own uniform code.

20. Secondary Transition inCayman Brac • General Principles • Any changes to the secondary school system have to provide better opportunities for students • There has to be adequate time for the transition • We need consultation with the school, parents and students

21. Secondary Transition inCayman Brac • We need to agree on • a model (should we move to a 5 + 1 plan?) • a proposed programme of study • a transition plan We commit to extensive consultation on these issues.

22. Immediate benefits for CBHS • Better support for planning for careers and/or further study through the Careers Advisory Service • Opportunities for the school to incorporate some of the best study programmes into the existing option scheme for students going into Year 11 • Better and more appropriate qualifications for all students • An opportunity to reflect on how we move the school forward to benefit the community