The Department of Education, Sport and Culture operates the Island’s 37 schools – 32 primaries and 5 secondaries – and the University College Isle of Man (UCM), which offers professional, exam/degree and recreational courses for adults.
| Department of Education, Sport and Culture - Messages Bulletin | |
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| School closures Schools will close to most children from the end of the school day on Monday 23 March until further notice. The decision has been taken in conjunction with school leaders as the Island strengthens measures to protect residents against the coronavirus pandemic. Government advice is that all children should stay at home, where possible, and follow the guidance on social distancing if they go out to exercise. All five high schools and nine of our primary schools with special education needs support will remain open to provide care for vulnerable children and those whose parents are classed as 'key workers' critical to the Island's COVID-19 response. Eligible children of secondary school age should attend the school they normally do. Eligible children of primary school age where the school they normally attend is closed should attend the following 'hub' schools |
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| Hub School | Closed Schools |
| Ballacottier | Anagh Coar, St Thomas’, Vallajeelt, Kewaigue |
| Buncsoill Rhumsaa | Andreas, Dhoon, Jurby, Sulby |
| Cronk y Berry | Willaston, Braddan |
| Henry Bloom Noble | Manor Park, Scoill Yn Jubilee, St Mary’s RC |
| Onchan | Ashley Hill, Laxey |
| Peel Clothworkers | Ballaugh, Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, Michael |
| Scoill Phurt le Moirrey | Ballasalla, Victoria Road |
| Rushen | Arbory |
| St John’s | Foxdale, Marown |
| University College Isle of Man will provide a limited service to assist students who are completing their courses. Efforts are also being put in place to assist remote working for school children in order to support their educational needs while they are at home. |
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It works with other Government Departments and agencies to deliver services for children, including safeguarding and needs-based assistance.
It runs the Youth Service, which offers play and youth clubs and special projects, Adventure Education at two outdoor learning centres and Café Laare.
It runs Manx Sport and Recreation and the NSC, the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre, arts development and the Youth Arts Centre and is the sponsoring Department for the semi-autonomous bodies Isle of Man Sport and the Isle of Man Arts Council
EMERGENCY POWERS (CORONAVIRUS) (EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS) REGULATIONS 2020
Direction by the Department of Education Sport and Culture
For the purposes of Regulation 5(1) of the Emergency Powers (Coronavirus) (Educational Institution) Regulations 2020 (“the Regulations”), the Department of Education Sport and Culture gives a Direction for the temporary closure of educational institutions in the Island on the terms and in the manner set out in this Direction:
1 Application to educational institutions in the Island and provisions for closure
(1) The educational institutions in the Island listed in column A of the table below (“Hub Schools”) shall be temporarily closed in accordance with the Regulations to all persons except for Specified Persons
(2) The primary schools listed in the column B of the table below shall be temporarily closed in accordance with the Regulations (“Closed Schools”) and Specified Persons from Closed Schools may attend at the Hub School listed in column A of the table below
(3) All other educational institutions in the Island shall be temporarily closed in accordance with the Regulations
(4)
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COLUMN A - Hub School |
COLUMN B Closed Schools |
|---|---|
|
Ballacottier |
Anagh Coar |
|
Bunscoill Rhumsaa |
Andreas |
|
Cronk y Berry |
Willaston |
|
Henry Bloom Noble |
Manor Park |
|
Onchan |
Ashley Hill |
|
Peel Clothworker’s |
Ballaugh |
|
Scoill Phurt le Moirrey |
Ballasalla |
|
Rushen |
Arbory |
|
St John’s |
Foxdale |
|
All schools providing secondary education |
Permitted Pupils attend at their usual secondary school |
(a) vulnerable children as more particularly set out in any guidance issued by the Department of Education Sport and Culture pursuant to Regulation 7 of the Regulations(5) In this Direction, Specified Persons shall mean:
(b) pupils of primary school age or secondary school age who is a child of a parent or guardian who is a Keyworker as more particularly set out in any guidance issued by the Department of Education Sport and Culture
(those pupils listed in sub-paragraph (5)(a) and (b) shall be referred to in this Direction as “Permitted Pupils”)
(c) a head teacher, teachers, educational support officers, or other non-qualified staff as the head teacher or other nominated officer of the leadership of the educational institution (“the Nominated Officer”) as may be required to properly supervise those permitted pupils (“Permitted Staff”).
2 Specified Persons permitted to attend
(1) Specified Persons shall be permitted to attend at a Hub School pursuant to this Direction.
(2) Permitted Pupils of Closed Schools in column B of the table in paragraph 1(2) should take all reasonable steps to attend the Hub School immediately adjacent in column A of the table (“the Nominated Hub School”).
(3) If for exceptional or other compelling reason a Permitted Pupil is unable to attend the Nominated Hub School, Permitted Pupils or their parent or guardian should take appropriate action to notify the Nominated Hub School, and the Hub School which it is intended to attend in lieu of the Nominated Hub School.
(4) Specified persons shall take all reasonable steps to observe and abide by any Public Health or other guidance published by the Cabinet Office, or the Department of Health and Social Care in relation to social distancing or self-isolation (“public health guidance”) whilst attending at a Hub School.
(5) The head teacher, or in the absence or incapacity of the head teacher another Nominated Officer, or the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Education Sport and Culture or his delegate shall issue directions to all attendees at the school in order to observe and abide by any public health guidance.
(6) The head teacher, or in his or her absence or incapacity the Nominated Officer, or in his or her absence or incapacity the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Education Sport and Culture or his delegate may issue guidance or directions in relation to the operation of or attendance at Hub Schools by Specified Persons.
(7) The Department of Education Sport and Culture may close any of the Hub Schools or reduce capacity or operating hours where circumstances require it in order to protect public health.
(8) Any Hub School may obtain such personal data from the parent or guardian of a Permitted Pupil of any Closed School, or from the Closed School that the Permitted Pupil usually attends provided that:
- the personal data obtained is required, in the reasonable opinion of a head teacher, the Nominated Officer or the Chief Executive Officer or their delegate, to ensure the health and safety, or education of that Permitted Pupil or other Permitted Pupil;
- information security protocols are put in place and agreed in advance between the school providing the information and the school receiving it;
- that in all other respects the request and the data which is required is necessary and proportionate for the purposes for which it is collected; and
- where possible given any resource or lack thereof, sharing of information is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller or in the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person.
3 Guidance
In accordance with Regulation 7 of the Regulations, the Department of Education Sport and Culture shall publish Guidance at /about-the-government/departments/education-sport-and-culture/ and all Specified Persons must have regard to the same in accordance with the Regulations.
4 Duration
This temporary closure direction has effect until the earlier of either (i) the end of the extant Proclamation of Emergency or (ii) further direction by the Department provided under Regulation 5.
