***Editor’s Note: Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Office of Education Standards is conducting one-day ‘thematic visits’ to Cayman Islands schools in the Spring 2022 term in lieu of more in-depth inspections. (Click to expand.)
(Read our story on the decision here.) OES recently published the first batch of reports from these visits, which will eventually involve 31 government and private schools and culminate in a national report. The Current will publish a story on each individual school, as well as stories from a more comprehensive perspective.***
Hope Academy has focussed on the mental well-being of students and staff through the pandemic, and educators have tried to adapt to COVID-19 using technology and other strategies, an Office of Education Standards inspector said.
The pandemic has impacted the school in terms of staff turnover and negatively affected some students’ academic performance, according to a letter to Principal Samantha Tibbetts from Senior Inspector David Baldwin, following a one-day ‘thematic visit’ to the private school.
The visit occurred on 19 Jan. and the inspector’s summary is dated 21 Jan.
“We did not find any significant concerns” during the visit, Baldwin said.
Unlike full inspection reports, the inspectors do not assign graded judgments to schools as a result of the one-day visits. Inspectors conduct interviews with school leadership, teachers and administration, as well as reviewing documentation.
“Senior leaders, and all staff were fully committed to the wellbeing of all stakeholders. There were numerous strategies in place to support wellbeing, including a Mental Health Counsellor/Therapist available, free of charge,” he said.
Staff said the school had enhanced its communication with students and parents through the pandemic, “with communication becoming more meaningful and regular”.
Due to COVID-related absences, student attendance had declined by 20% during the school year.
Staff and students followed public health guidelines in regard to COVID, such as mask-wearing.
Like other schools, Hope Academy is also having to manage with staff turnover.
“The school have lost two of their four middle leaders recently and this has placed increasing strain on key staff,” Baldwin said.
Additionally, some students’ performance had declined during the pandemic.
“Leaders reported progress had continued to improve during the pandemic across both the middle and high school phases in maths, English and science although, there has been a slight dip in the primary school phase,” he said.