Education Sector Support Programme St. Helena Government (DFID)

DFID funded support to St. Helena Education sector (2003 – 2016)

Through a series of three DFID-funded contracts, CIDT have provided management support to the St Helena Education and Employment Directorate in improving the education service, in relation to education policy and planning and management and curriculum development for primary and secondary education.

Partnering with the Shropshire Local Education Authority, CIDT provided consultants and expertise to all levels of the education system to support achievement of the island’s 5 year education development plan.

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Find out more

Read the St Helena Directorate of Education and Employment education and training offer.
Contact Lilla Oliver, The UK Support Officer to the St.Helena Education Directorate.

Phase 1: 2003-2008

Between 2003 and 2008 CIDT managed consultants and service providers for £2.5 million of support to the Government of St Helena’s Education Department. Support provided include:

Building education management capacity
Improvement of the quality of education throughout the system
Restructuring of the primary system
Restructuring of the teacher professional development system
Headteacher development
Special educational needs provision
Vocational education and the use of ICT for education in remote areas.

Phase 2: 2010-2012

Between 2010 and 2012 CIDT provided management support to the St Helena Education and Employment Directorate in improving the education service, especially in relation to education policy and planning, distance education; use of ICT in education; management and curriculum development for primary and secondary education.

CIDT provided consultants, specialists and expertise/guidance to all levels of the education system to assist the Education and Employment Directorate to achieve the objectives of their 5 year education development plan.

This included support in the following areas: subject specialist support at primary and secondary, vertically grouped teaching methodology, main stream teaching, curriculum development, assessment for learning; school leadership and management; teacher education; development of EMIS, staff planning, school linking programmes; placements for key staff in schools and advisory services in Shropshire combined with a structured and tailored programme of professional development.

Phase 3: 2012-2016

In the current phase and moving forward support provided will centre on the following:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes for teachers through video conferencing, distance learning and e-learning platforms.
Management of teacher training placements in the UK.
Supporting the development of Initial Teacher Training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) on the island.

UK Placements

Mrs Penny Bowers, Deputy Headteacher of Prince Andrew Secondary Community School on the Island of St Helena is undertaking an overseas training placement in the UK (6 June – 19 August 2015) based in Shrewsbury.

Penny’s programme includes working alongside Headteachers and staff in schools within the Shropshire Local Authority to help her to further enhance her skills, knowledge and experience. Penny is also attending conferences in London and receiving bespoke training sessions from advisors within the Shropshire Local Authority.

Penny is also hoping to undertake the NPQH with Edge Hill University while she is in the UK and then she will complete this via distance learning when she returns to the Island.

Penny is fully supported by CIDT during her stay and so far she has reported that she has already gained a lot of new ideas and strategies that will help her to raise standards and achievement within Prince Andrew School when she returns to the Island.

Penny’s journey to the UK took almost a week as the Island is currently one of the most remote places in the world to access. It is only accessible by Royal Mail Ship that takes five days to travel to and from the Island from Capetown and three days to and from Ascension Island. In 2016, the newly built airport will be operational and will drastically change the face of Island communication and access.

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