Education Consultant Fees / Impact

Summary

The request sought the costs of education consultant Dave Harris's visits to Manx schools over five years and the resulting reforms. The authority disclosed detailed cost breakdowns for most visits and described the nature of the work undertaken, but noted that specific ancillary expense data for some dates could not be located.

Key Facts

• The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided cost data for Dave Harris's visits between 2015 and 2019.
• Some information regarding ancillary expenses (accommodation and car hire) could not be located after reasonable steps.
• Harris's work included direct engagement with secondary schools and Department-level tasks like leadership training and system consultation.
• The response was issued on 17 February 2020 following a request received on 20 January 2020.
• Multiple visits occurred in 2017 and 2019, with individual costs ranging from approximately £294 to £3,005.

Data Disclosed

• £1,692.13
• £602.00
• £1,001.35
• £2,067.99
• £294.51
• £909.76
• £2,739.71
• £1,636.96
• £1,966.49
• £2,729.11
• £2,243.25
• £2,440.13
• £1,412.72
• £1,557.30
• £3,005.09
• £2,728.29
• £1,121.63
• £2,263.00
• 2015
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020-01-20
• 2020-02-17
• 1137125

Original Request

- What has been the cost of inviting education consultants (namely Dave Harris) to Manx schools over the past five years? - What reforms to the Manx education system have been implemented as a result of these visits?

Data Tables (3)

Full Response Text

Costs of Education Consultant - Dave Harris Year Week commencing Total Information Held Information Not Held Comments 2015 5.7.15 £1,692.13 Flights & Fees Accommodation & car hire 23.2.16 £602.00 Flights, accommodation & Fees Car hire 12.10.16 £1,001.35 Flights & Fees Accommodation & car hire 20.11.16 No info held 12.1.17 £2,067.99 Fees Flights, accommodation & car hire 28.3.17 £294.51 Flights, car hire & fees Accommodation 17.6.17 £909.76 Flights & accommodation Car hire & fees 3.9.17 £2,739.71 Flights, accommodation, car hire & fees 24.9.17 £1,636.96 Flights, car hire & fees Accommodation 12.11.17 £1,966.49 Flights, accommodation, car hire & fees 18.6.18 £2,729.11 Flights, Accommodation & Fees Car hire 17.10.18 £2,243.25 Flights, accommodation, car hire & fees 18.11.18 £2,440.13 Flights, accommodation, car hire & fees 17.3.19 £1,412.72 Flights, accommodation, car hire & fees 16.6.19 £1,557.30 Flights, accommodation, car hire & fees 2016 2017 2018 2019 6-10.9.19 £3,005.09 Flights, Accommodation & Fees Car hire 9-13.9.19 £2,728.29 Flights, Accommodation & Fees Car hire 1.7.19 £1,121.63 Flights, accommodation, car hire & fees 8.12.19 £2,263.00 Flights, accommodation, car hire & fees 2 separate piecesof work within same period / car hire info not held

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im Our ref: 1137125 17 February 2020

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 20 January 2020 and which states:

"- What has been the cost of inviting education consultants (namely Dave Harris) to Manx schools over the past five years? - What reforms to the Manx education system have been implemented as a result of these visits?" In order to identify and locate the information that you asked for, we needed to clarify if the information requested was specifically about Dave Harris's visits to schools on the Isle of Man only and by "reforms to the Manx education system" did this mean what changes have been made following the visits. You advised: I would be grateful for information regarding the cost of Dave Harris's visits (if possible broken down by cost per visit); and any changes which have been made following the visits. Our response to your request is as follows: Cost of Education Consultant Dave Harris visits I have enclosed the information that is held. Some information, in relation to ancillary expenses costs (shown in column E) cannot be located after taking reasonable steps to do so. Changes made to the education system I have enclosed the information held which details some of the work that Mr Harris completed with each secondary school during his visits to the Isle of Man. The majority of Mr Harris’s work over the past 5 years has been direct with the schools and work with the Department specifically has been less often. Work with the Department has involved writing reports, developing and delivering leadership training, transition training, Head Teacher coaching and to lead a consultation across the island on how the Manx Education system might develop over the coming years.

Please quote the reference number 1137125 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Coordinator

1 Consultancy work Dave Harris has undertook with the schools and the Department

Ballakermeen High School

Previous to the 2017-18 year Mr Harris was funded by the DESC and was working with individual schools on matters relating to teaching and learning. He undertook a number of ‘learning walks’ and reported his findings to the SLT.

2018-19
BHS had two new Deputy Heads in post and Mr Harris worked with us on two separate days, holding one to one interviews with each member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). He discussed the needs of the school and the strengths and areas for development of a new team. Each SLT member had two sessions with Mr Harris, one before re- organisation of roles and one afterwards.

2019-20 Mr Harris is working with our Pastoral Support Teams (Year Heads, Assistant Year Heads, Key Stage Leaders and non-teaching Pastoral Support Officers). This academic year, Mr Harris has been focusing on making our school values a reality by determining how our pastoral teams function.

As such, there have been no reforms to the Manx Education System, but individuals will have changed their ways of working as a result of coaching sessions with Mr Harris.

Castle Rushen High School

Work with Dave Harris – · Working with new LT on school vision · Working with HT on School Improvement and Development Plan · Working with whole staff on improving transition between KS2 and KS3 · Mentoring of those in new promoted roles to plan and review priorities eg Head of Year, Head of PSHE, Head of English · Training of middle leaders in effective leadership styles · Working with CPD leader to plan reflective practitioners’ course for middle leaders · Gathering of pupil voice for quality assurance purposes · Working with STL of core subjects to improve data analysis to inform intervention · Working with Teaching and Learning Team on raising levels of engagement · Supporting SEBD Co-ordinator in developing suitable provision for students with challenging behaviour

QEII High School

2019 – 2020: This year, he is running a programme with middle leaders on preparing for senior leadership as part of professional development. This includes an element of coaching. Feedback from those involved is positive. Impact will increase but already has supported changes to our transition between KS2 and KS3.

2 2018 -2019: During this academic year, he supported working groups looking at pedagogy and engagement in the classroom. This was part of the school development plan and lesson observations show increased engagement.

Ramsey Grammar School

DH has provided support to the Headteacher and members of the school’s action research groups. This has added significant but unquantifiable value to the work of the school.

St Ninian’s High School

Financial Year

Purpose of visit

Impact 2015'16

2016'17

2017'18

2018'19 Carried out an evaluation of Senior Leadership Team and review of their roles & responsibilities Senior Leadership team roles and responsibilities reviewed and developed further – contributing to improved school leadership.

Compiled evidence & assisted HT & SLT on completing Personal Development section of SSRE Improved QA procedures in this area of school evaluation

Compiled Job Scoping Report – investigating the parity of different TLR 1B roles in the school Vital report in evaluating a formal pay claim by a middle leader in the school 2019'20 AM: School Climate Check (lesson observations /meetings with staff/meetings with students etc.) – fed back to SLT.

PM: Worked with Deputy Head Teacher on our KS2 to KS3 Transition Programme Important part of the school’s ongoing QA systems and self-review.

Further improved the experience our students get from their transition programme to secondary school

Worked with Deputy Head Teacher, Transition Team & Cluster Group on Transition Programme – follow-up Further improved the experience our students get from their transition programme to secondary school

Transition – further follow-up School Strategic Planning with HT Visioning session with SLT
As above Professional conversation with HT on strategic planning of the school – helped provide clarity of strategic direction of school.