This week five primary schools – Anagh Coar, Braddan, Dhoon, Marown and Onchan – will share with parents the comments from an external validation of their School Self Review and Evaluation (SSRE).

‘The process of SSRE is continuous and requires schools to review all aspects of their work and make judgments about what they are doing well and where they need to take action to secure improvement,’ said Geoff Moorcroft, director of education.

‘The possible judgments are ‘significant strength’, ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’ and ‘action required’.

‘This process supports schools by making clear to them what high quality provision looks like and requiring them to offer the best possible learning opportunities for pupils,’ Mr Moorcroft said.

‘The Department of Education and Children believes the process has proved very effective in helping schools to improve their practice.

‘As the process is one of continual monitoring and evaluation, staff in schools can develop a clear idea for themselves of what is good and what needs to be improved. The validation process then supports schools in confirming that the judgments they have made are robust, by building in an external element.’

The first external validation cycle took place from 2008 to 2011 and a second validation cycle began in September 2013.

It involves an external validator, together with a DEC adviser, working with headteachers to review the evidence schools have used to make judgments and to quality assure their accuracy. The validating company, World Class Learning, was chosen from a number of companies that tendered for this work.

Any areas for improvement are then identified in the annual School Improvement Plan and are supported by the school’s link adviser.

Mr Moorcroft said: ‘The main aim of the validation process is to provide professional support to schools to help them to refine their own judgments. When a school has been involved in this validation process, they will take the opportunity to share key outcomes with parents.’

ANAGH COAR:

Achievement against prior attainment

Within the large majority of lessons and units of work pupils acquire and apply skills, knowledge and understanding and can demonstrate progress in their learning.

Most pupils have made very good progress in all areas by the end of the Foundation Stage.

By the end of Key Stage 1 (aged five to seven) most pupils have made progress in reading, writing and mathematics that is above the island averages.

Initial analysis of the results of the current cohort of pupils reaching the end of Key Stage 2 indicates the likelihood of most of them making better than average progress, compared with previous

cohorts. The validation team concurs with the school’s judgment that achievement against prior attainment is ‘satisfactory’.

If the end of Key Stage 2 (age seven to 11) results are as predicted, the school will be able to judge this aspect as ‘good’ in the future.

Care

The school cares well for its pupils. It implements key policies in order to ensure the physical and emotional health of all pupils.

The school works in collaboration with a range of external agencies in order to reduce risks and ensure the best outcomes for the children and families who require access to their services.

The good care that the school takes of pupils leads to good attitudes, values and personal qualities.

There are some significant strengths in the school’s care, including the implementation of the PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) programme, TAS (Team Around the School) and Rights Respecting Schools.

The validation team concurs with the school’s judgment that care is ‘good’.

Learning resources

The school is well resourced. The school has purchased good quality resources to reflect the priorities of the school improvement plan and therefore to match the needs of the pupils.

The careful and organised storage of resources for learning enables staff to easily access what children need for their lessons.

Staff expertise is deployed effectively to meet the needs of all pupils. The validation team particularly noted the good deployment of Education Support Officers.

The validation team concurs with the school’s judgment that resources are ‘good’.

Other areas considered

As well as the specific aspects of the SSRE on which it focused, the validation team also considered other judgments set out in the SSRE. It concurred with a range of statements, including those that:

 The vast majority of pupils engage well in the learning activities.

 There are frequent visits and visitors to the school to enhance learning.

 There is some good – and very good – assessment practice.

 Provision for pupils with more complex social and emotional needs is effective and has enabled the successful inclusion of these pupils within mainstream education.

 The guidance and support that the school provides for pupils is good. In particular, the introduction of the PATHS programme has enabled all pupils – including those who are vulnerable – to make the right choices in order to develop and achieve.

 The school’s senior leadership is good. The headteacher and senior leadership team promote a clear, shared vision which promotes pupils’ interests.

 Relationships in the school are strong.

 Communication with parents is good. Parents are highly supportive of the school.

Conclusion

The school knows itself well and is therefore in a very good position to continue its improvement.

Rob Coole

Headteacher

July 2014

BRADDAN:

Attainment

Attainment in the Foundation Stage over the past five years has been better than island averages.

Attainment at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 is at least satisfactory and sometimes good when compared with the expectations for pupils at these ages. Attainment in writing and mathematics at the end of Key Stage 1 (ages five to seven) has improved.

The school is developing comprehensive and professional descriptions of pupils’ attainment in relation to the Department of Education and Children’s ‘Essentials for Learning’ curriculum for learning and achievement. The school has a wealth of data to support its evaluation of pupil attainment. The team agreed with the school’s judgment that attainment overall is ‘satisfactory’.

Achievement against prior attainment

The team agreed with the school’s judgment that children’s achievement against prior attainment is ‘satisfactory’. The school’s data shows that pupils at the end of Foundation Stage make good progress overall, those at the end of Key Stage 1 also make good progress and those at the end of Key Stage 2 make generally satisfactory progress, with evidence of good progress in writing.

Again, the school has a wealth of data to support its evaluation of achievement against prior attainment.

Assessment

The team agreed with the school’s judgment that assessment overall is ‘satisfactory’. The school has good procedures in place for tracking pupils’ progress. The assessment information that it gathers is used to inform planning at school level and to set numerical targets related to National Curriculum levels and sub levels. There is some good practice relating to identifying the next steps for pupils to improve their learning.

Other areas considered

As well as the three specific aspects of the SSRE on which it focused, the validation team also considered other judgments set out in the SSRE. It noted that:

 The vast majority of pupils demonstrate positive attitudes, values and personal qualities.

 The vast majority of pupils show ‘risk awareness’ in day-to-day activities – including an understanding of e-safety.

 The majority of pupils demonstrate consistently good behaviour.

 There is some very good practice in teaching.

 There are some very good examples of teachers introducing the Manx elements of the curriculum where appropriate.

 There are a wide variety of learning resources in the school. These are of good quality and well matched to the requirements of the curriculum.

 Displays in most classrooms are informative.

 The school has good communication systems in place to share information with parents.

 The quality of the school’s senior leadership is satisfactory.

Conclusion

The school’s self review and evaluation acknowledges the school has many strengths and the team oncluded that the school knows itself well.

By developing a more robust and rigorous SSRE document, the school would be able to express this knowledge more clearly. The vast majority of pupils like being at school, however, feel their lessons are interesting and fun and regard other children as friendly.

Mrs Louise Oates

Headteacher

July 2014

DHOON:

Assessment

The validation team concurred with the school’s judgment that assessment is a ‘significant strength’.

The team noted that the school makes very good use of assessment processes and data to inform and improve pupils’ learning. The principles of ‘assessment for learning’ are well established.

Teachers’ marking of pupils’ work is very good, making clear reference to what has been successful and identifying next steps.

The team felt that a particularly notable aspect of assessment in the school is the way in which pupils participate in the setting of targets for future learning.

The team went on to note that the school has a wealth of data collected through summative assessment and uses pupil-tracking systems effectively to make evaluative judgments about pupils’ progress.

Learning and teaching

The validation team concurred with the school’s judgment that learning and teaching at the school is ‘good’.

They noted that teachers provide pupils with a range of learning activities which provided them with opportunities to work both independently and collaboratively, and that pupils take appropriate opportunities to

direct their own learning. The team also reported that learning is extended beyond the classroom effectively through, for example, participation in a range of educational visits, while also noting that the use of home learning journals has had a positive impact on pupils’ engagement with learning at home.

Additionally, the team commented that teachers’ medium and short term planning is thorough and identifies clear learning objectives, outcomes and teaching strategies matched to pupils’ needs.

Achievement against prior attainment

The validation team concurred with the school’s judgment that pupils’ achievement against prior attainment is ‘good’.

They noted that most pupils, throughout the school, make better than the Island’s average progress, and that the current data tracking shows that most of the current cohort of pupils will make better than

average progress in reading, writing and numeracy.

The team additionally noted that within individual lessons and units of work, pupils acquire and apply skills, knowledge and understanding, demonstrating good progress in their learning.

Other areas considered:

The validation team noted that:

 Behaviour at the school is excellent.

 Pupils are polite, responsible and independent.  Pupils recognise that they genuinely have a voice in determining the school’s direction.

 The school’s ‘curriculum drivers’ (Local Links, The Wider World, Communication, Initiative, The Arts) help teachers to plan and provide learning that is varied, accessible and engaging.

 The taught curriculum makes very good reference to the Manx context.

 Classroom environments are rich and engaging.

 The school provides guidance and support to pupils in relation to inclusion, healthy lifestyles, enjoyment and achievement, and citizenship.

 The school provides many opportunities for pupils to take part in sporting, musical and other events on the island.

 The headteacher and senior staff promote a shared vision which provides the school with a sense of purpose.

Teachers are encouraged to be innovative and risk-taking; the curriculum drivers and the child-led approach to planning, for example, allow teachers to be creative and to try new things in their classes.

 The headteacher distributes responsibility throughout the staff effectively, with leaders at all levels being accountable for school improvement.

Conclusion

The school knows itself well. It is in a good position to devise clear and specific targets for the continued improvement of pupils’ learning.

Mr David Jenkins

Headteacher

July 2014

MAROWN:

Teaching and learning

The validation team agreed with the school’s judgment that this area is good.

Teachers’ plans identify learning outcomes and suitable teaching strategies. The learning objectives for particular lessons are explained to pupils.

Teachers extend and enhance pupils’ learning experience through a range of additional activities, including educational visits. Teachers use an appropriate variety of styles to meet the needs of learners. They provide pupils with opportunities to learn both independently and collaboratively.

Achievement against prior attainment

The validation team agreed with the school’s judgment that achievement against prior attainment is satisfactory overall.

Observations during the visit confirmed the school’s judgment that, in individual lessons, pupils progress in the development of knowledge, skills and understanding. Pupils also make progress in the development of personal qualities as defined by the ‘6 Rs’ as set out in the ‘Essentials for Learning’ curriculum for learning and achievement.

The team agreed that there are undoubtedly good aspects of pupils’ achievement against prior attainment.

The accreditation team noted that the parents to whom they spoke were pleased and impressed with the progress made by their children, whatever their levels of prior attainment.

Assessment

The validation team agreed with the school’s judgments that this area is good.

Assessment for learning strategies are developing well throughout the school.

Teachers use assessment information to inform their planning. By looking at samples of exercise books, the validation team noted examples of teachers providing pupils with written feedback that indicated the next steps that they needed to take to improve their learning.

The team also noted that teachers use assessment

information to set targets in literacy and numeracy. The school has a wealth of assessment data that it uses to track pupil progress and set priorities for further development.

Other areas considered:

As well as the three specific aspects of the SSRE on which it focused, the validation team also considered other judgments set out in the SSRE and noted that:

 The senior leadership team promote a clear shared vision.

 There is a particularly strong ethos of inclusion.

 Pupils’ behaviour is very good.

 Levels of attainment in literacy, numeracy and science are above island averages.

 Pupils demonstrate good levels of Readiness to learn, Relationships which are positive, Resourcefulness, Resilience, Remembering skills and Reflectiveness. 

The school makes good use of its building and site.

 The school allocates resources (including human resources) for pupils who need extra support and has introduced excellent facilities to accommodate pupils with mobility difficulties.

 The school provides pupils with a good range of activities both in lessons and through visits and extra-curricular activities.

 Parents of children entering the school are provided with a very good induction programme.

 The school teaches children how to be safe.

 Communication is very good.

 School staff are enabled and encouraged to be involved in evaluating the school and planning its future development.

Conclusion

The school knows itself very well. Marown is a good school and has a number of significant strengths.

The school is held in very high regard by parents and others. It has recorded its knowledge in an excellent School Self-Review and Evaluation report.

The school is therefore in a good position to use its knowledge to continue in its development and to reach the targets it has set for itself.

Mr Ian Longshaw

Headteacher

July 2014

ONCHAN

Achievement against prior attainment

Achievement against prior attainment is good. By the end of last school year most pupils in the Foundation Stage (reception) made progress in all areas of learning that was better than the island average.

The current cohort is predicted to make better than average progress.

By the end of last school year most pupils at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 (age five to 11) had made better than average progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Judging from observations and discussions, it is very likely that within lessons and units of work pupils acquire and apply skills, knowledge and understanding, demonstrating progress in their learning.

Teaching and learning

Teaching and learning is good. Teachers use a range of strategies to ensure all pupils are challenged.

They make widespread use of ‘chilli challenges’ through which pupils make guided choices of ‘mild’, ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ tasks.

Pupils told the validation team that they found most of the work planned by teachers to be exciting.

Teachers’ planning identifies a wide range of learning activities including opportunities for individual, pair and group discussions.

Teachers regularly evaluate pupils’ learning and the next steps they need to take. They set realistic and challenging targets for the improvement of pupils’ learning.

Pupils know their targets and are often involved in setting them and monitoring their achievement.

Assessment

Assessment of pupils is good. The school has a clear policy which identifies the processes and methods used for recording pupil progress.

The policy also deals with moderation and marking and is widely implemented.

‘Assessment for learning’ methodology is well developed with considerable use being made of self- and peer-assessment.

Through newsletters, regular parents’ evenings, annual reports and other means of contact, parents are well informed both about what children will be learning and about their attainment and progress. Teachers mark pupils’ work thoroughly and often use marking to inform them of the next steps in learning. The school gathers a great deal of assessment data which is analysed carefully.

Other areas considered

As well as the specific aspects of the SSRE on which it focused, the validation team also considered other judgments set out in the SSRE. It concurred with a range of statements, including those that:

 The special education needs unit is an important and valued part of the school. Children from 
the unit are included in all aspects of school life where appropriate and pupils from other classes 
visit from time to time.

 Pupils are happy and confident.

 The school communicates well with parents. It has a strong reputation locally.

The headteacher and senior team promote a clear, shared vision.

School leadership is fair, 
transparent and energetic. Leadership is distributed to take account of areas of expertise and interest and to promote 
teamwork and collective ownership.

 Staff work well together to promote a nurturing atmosphere.

 Teachers make good use of ‘learning walls’ and ‘teaching walls’ in their classrooms.

 Pupils’ learning is enhanced by visits locally and further afield and by visits from people able to 
share their particular expertise.

 Teachers of each year group plan thematically.

 Differentiated learning is evident throughout the school, particularly through the chilli challenges.

 The school provides a considerable number of extra-curricular clubs – some of them organised 
by pupils.

 Parents report that their children are aware of what they need to do to stay healthy and safe.

Conclusion

The school knows itself well and is therefore in a very good position to continue to improve. It has produced a detailed SSRE report.

Even though the school building is old it is used flexibly as a positive learning environment and recent changes mean that the school could now 
judge the learning environment as ‘good’ and move toward it being a ‘significant strength’.

Mrs Jo Richardson

Headteacher

July 2014

A Douglas supermarket is considering its options after planning permission was refused for an extra sales area to be situated in its car park.

Tesco supermarket on Lake Road in Douglas had applied for planning permission to erect a temporary building, made from steel panels on an aluminium frame, to sell seasonal goods.

The 54 square metre outlet, at the west side of the car park exit, taking up four parking spaces was to sell seasonal products from gardening, beach, barbecue and picnic items to TT merchandise and Christmas goods.

Douglas council objected to the proposal. Councillor David Ashford said he believed the environmental services committee had viewed it as ‘expansion by stealth’.

‘I think the feeling was it was an attempt to get around the previous refusal to allow them to expand. They are limited by the site they are on. It’s not an anti-Tesco vote. All applications are assessed individually and the site has limitations.’

Planners expressed concern over access and parking and reluctance to allow more retail development outside the town centre. A spokesman for Tesco said: ‘We’re naturally disappointed with the decision to refuse our application. We’d love to improve our offer for customers, and in the busy seasonal periods this marquee would have helped us to do that. However, we will consider the options open to us.’

Steam Packet bosses insist problems facing its Portuguese bank owners are unlikely to have an impact on operations.

Shares in Portugal’s second largest financial institution, Banco Espírito Santo, were suspended from trading for a time last week amid fears about its exposure to other companies in the Espirito Santo group.

The move sparked fresh concerns over the fragility of Europe’s banking system.

The Steam Packet company announced in April 2011 that it had been put on a more ‘stable footing’ after a new ownership structure was put in place following the refinancing of the business by a group of banks led by Banco Espírito Santo.

Share capital previously owned by a number of Australian pension funds and Macquarie was transferred instead to Sealion (Isle of Man) Ltd, a company owned by the Steam Packet’s bank.

Chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘We are aware of the recent developments regarding Banco Espírito Santo. However, we do not anticipate that there will be any impact on Steam Packet Company operations.’

In July last year, the SPC announced it had completed a financial restructuring, following almost a year of negotiations with the company’s syndicate of lenders, which had enabled it to significantly reduce its previously ‘unsustainable’ level of debt.

Portugal’s central bank insists Banco Espírito Santo is ‘solid’ and does not need extra funds to deal with its exposure to Espírito Santo Group. But it has ordered the immediate appointment of a new chief executive and other board members.

Parents of children aged from five upwards will now be able to benefit from holiday respite care for their offspring.

Previously the Easter and summer school holiday schemes were available only to children with special needs who were over the age of eight.

But now the Crossroads charity, which has run a holiday scheme in the island for more than 10 years, has extended its provision to include younger children, despite a big reduction in its funding, and can offer the extra places to carers who need summer respite.

Crossroads chief executive Jackie Betteridge thanksed the Department of Education and Children for its support. She said the fund, worth £12,000 annually, had recently been exhausted but despite this they were delighted to extend its provision.

Activities offered on the scheme this year include trips with Sailing for the Disabled, activities at the Venture Centre, trips to the beach and Wildlife Park and rides on the steam train. The scheme allows parents to have some time to themselves over the summer. Disabled children who are based in a special needs unit in a school are elgible to attend the scheme during Easter and summer.

A man firmly committed to both serving and preserving the community has become the latest person to join Port Erin Commissioners.

Will Halsall, 50, was born and bred in Port St Mary and is from a well-known local fishing family.

He was educated locally, left school at 15 and worked for Colas before he moved to the UK in 1986.There he gained extensive experience in various companies in the highways industry and managed a sign company in Manchester. In 2001 he returned, with his family, to live in Port Erin. Since living here he has run a company specialising in public transport hardware and deals exclusively with UK-based organisations.

He keeps a weather eye on local issues and as a commissioner is keen to help where he can.

‘I’m not going in for any egotistical reasons, it is to serve the community with honesty and integrity,’ he said. ‘I, like everyone, can hear the rumours … and rather than whinge and being a sniping critic I will throw my hat in the ring to be a commissioner just to serve the community.

‘I have no intention of siding with anyone. I’m very much my own man.’

He is proudly Manx and keen to preserve a tradition he thinks is diminishing.

‘I’m nationalistic Manx. I think the traditional Manx culture is gradually being eroded or sidelined, we seem to have lost our way. With the growth of Port Erin I worry that a lot of the old Manx culture is being eroded slightly.

‘It’s the old culture it’s being forgotten. I’m from a fishing family in Port St Mary ... I look at it now and we have this influx of people who do not want to embrace what the village is like.

‘Our kids should embrace Manx culture in its true origins.

‘I’m here to represent the community as a whole and that is my stance, I want what is best for the village and want its heritage and identity retained.’

He’s fully aware now – with the financial squeeze and potential local government reform – is a challenging time.

‘I’m under no illusions that government is trying to transfer costs to local authorities and some tough decisions will have to be made, I’m not blind,’ he said.

As for reform, this is something he would support. He said one authority should be formed to cover Port Erin, Port St Mary, Rushen and Arbory parishes.

But he thinks board sizes need to be kept higher (when commenting on a recent failed notice of motion to reduce the board size at Port Erin from nine to five members).

He said larger numbers avoid cliques forming which could become the dominant voice.

But he said first and foremost: ‘I’m here to represent the community, if people have an issue, contact me. That’s what I’m there for, I want to be contactable, if someone says I’m getting nowhere with this, I’m happy to be a conduit to be used by the community.’

To contact Will, phone 454333 or email w.halsall@porterin.gov.im.

A minke whale washed up at Glen Maye beach probably died of natural causes, a spokesman for the Manx Wildlife Trust revealed.

The trust’s marine officer Lara Howe said samples had been taken from the body of the 20-foot long mammal that washed up on the beach on Saturday but there was no obvious cause of death.

‘There was no obvious sign of injury that we could see and it was not possible to do a full post mortem examination,’ she said.

‘It is really quite rare for a minke whale to be washed up like this though we do get calls out to harbour porpoise, dolphins and grey seals sometimes.’

Jen Adams of the Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch said she believed samples had been taken of the animal’s internal organs, blubber and stomach contents but no cause had been established.

‘Often they can be malnourished but as yet we are unsure,’ she said.

‘There were reports earlier of it floating at sea so it was definitely already dead when it was washed up.’

Richard Harrington of the Marine Conservation Society said the minke whale is one of the smaller species but an adult will grow to around 24 feet in length.

‘They are one of the more common whale species. They are not currently under threat of extinction but they are still vulnerable,’ he said.

Often the government’s Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture will deal with removing a carase but because the location is not accessible by vehicle this is likely to prove impossible.

The hope was that yesterday’s (Tuesday) predicted high tide would be sufficient to wash the body back into the sea and carry it away.

In the meantime the whale has proved a curiosity for sightseers with strong stomachs who have been visiting the beach to take a look.

The final match and title in the Isle of Man Lawn Tennis Association’s PokerStars Men’s and Women’s Leagues was decided last week as Albany A took on Castletown B in Men’s Division One.

Castletown B fought hard but a very strong Albany team took care of a Town team which was already assured of Division One tennis next season. For Albany Marc Chinn and Bruce Wagstaff were impressive and didn’t drop a single game all evening.

Jamie Teare and Ian Watson didn’t have things quite so easy though, winning their first two sets 6/3, 6/0 against Brian Aram and Jonny Weir and then 6/1, 6/0 against Colin Brown and Norman Lewis.

Albany’s third pair of Sean Drewry and Calvin Smith won their first two sets to love. They then went on to take the first set against Brown and Lewis 6/2 but lost the second 4/6. Final score 11-1 to Albany A.

This result means Albany and Castletown A finish level on points at the top of the table. In the case of two teams finishing on equal points the division is decided on percentage of sets won to percentage of sets lost.

This means that Castletown A clinch the title by the narrowest of margins.

This concludes the Men’s and Women’s Leagues with Castletown winning three divisions, Kensington Road one and Albany one.

The mixed leagues, which begin this week, see one more team taking part with Port Erin entering a B team.

There are four leagues with divisions one, two and three containing four teams and Division Four containing three.

Division One has the unusual situation of three teams from Castletown joined by Albany A.

In Division Two Kensington Road A and B are joined by Ramsey A and Albany B. Division Three is made up of Castletown’s D and E teams plus Port Erin A and Albany C.

The fourth and final Division is made up of Kensington Road C, Castletown F and Port Erin B.

This will see 42 matches being played over the next six weeks.

Neil Ronan

Men’s Division One

P W D L SW SL Pts

Castletown A 6 5 0 1 56 10 10

Albany A 6 5 0 1 49 13 10

Castletown B 6 2 0 4 29 43 4

Ramsey A 6 0 0 6 0 68 0

Men’s Division Two

Albany B 8 8 0 0 43 3 16

Kensington Rd A 8 5 1 2 33 13 11

Albany C 8 1 3 4 17 31 5

Kensington Rd B 8 2 1 5 14 34 5

Castletown C 8 1 1 6 11 37 3

Men’s Division Three

Kensington Rd D 8 5 3 0 31 17 13

Kensington Rd C 8 5 1 2 35 13 11

Port Erin A 8 4 1 3 30 18 9

Castletown D 8 1 3 4 15 33 5

Port Erin B 8 0 2 6 9 39 2

Women’s Division One

Casletown A 6 5 1 0 30 6 11

Albany A 6 3 2 1 23 13 8

Kensington Rd A 6 2 1 3 19 17 5

Ramsey A 6 0 0 6 0 36 0

Women’s Division Two

Castletown B 8 7 1 0 44 4 15

Port Erin A 8 4 1 3 27 21 9

Albany B 8 3 2 3 23 25 8

Castletown C 8 2 2 4 17 31 6

Kensington Rd B 8 0 2 6 9 39 2

The Manx education system it to make a big break from the English equivalent.

Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children, announced in Tynwald changes to 14-16 qualifications in secondary schools and the adoption of a new examination system.

The department’s five secondary schools will, this September, begin preparations for a move away from the English GCSE system towards the widespread adoption of the International GCSE (IGCSE), as set by Cambridge International Examinations, the international examination board of the University of Cambridge.

Pupils who begin Year 10 in September 2015 will be the first to sit IGCSE examinations on a large scale, though they are currently used in a small number of subjects in some schools.

More on this story in tomorrow’s Manx Independent

A finance official who had never ventured away from his home country of Papua New Guinea was among the delegates taking part in a pioneering business course in the island.

Kevin Samuel works in the Department of Finance in the independent country.

Mr Samuel travelled more than 8,500 miles from the country which became independent in the 1970s from Australia.

He joined fellow members of the course who are taking part in the sixth Small Countries Financial Management programme.

Last Wednesday they took a break from their studies to attend a reception at Government House with His Excellency Adam Wood.

An excited Mr Samuel said he had never been out of Papua New Guinea where he holds an important job with the government.

He and other participants praised the organisers of the course and said it was helping to spread the influence of the Isle of Man across the globe.

The man from Papua New Guinea told Business News the long journey from his home country north of Australia had been well worth it.

He said the country became independent in 1975 and added: ‘The programme I am attending is very good. It has given me a lot of insight,a lot of confidence and has enabled me to see things I did not see previously.

‘This will assist me in a lot of ways to do my job and to solve issues for my country and for the department I work for in the Department of Finance.

‘There were certain things I did not know previously but after being on this course for the last few days it has already given me a confidence level where I feel I can now see things and solve issues which is very good.

‘This is the first time I have come out of my country.’

Penielu Teo is general manager of a retirement fund on the tiny island of Tuvalu in the centre of the Pacific. He said it was the smallest country represented on the course.

The journey involved getting first to Fiji and then a 20 hour flight from Fiji to London including an eight hour stopover in Los Angeles.

He said the intensive course was proving to be interesting and eye opening

‘The course is about learning the tactics to bring out problems and converting them to solutions.’

Island Governor Adam Wood welcomed the guests and said he really enjoyed all the conversations he had with the visitors. ‘It is a great privilege for us to have people here from across the globe. I hope bringing you together in this way creates a network among you all.’

Mark Shimmin, the Isle of Man’s former chief financial officer, is to head up the Small Countries Financial Management Centre, succeeding Tim Cullen who previously announced his intention to retire from the post.

Mr Shimmin said Mr Samuel from Papua New Guinea was one of the ‘most energetic contributors to the course.’

He added he was looking forward to taking over but paid tribute to Mr Cullen and said: ‘I do have to say it’s big shoes and a hard act to follow, but yes I’m looking forward to it. I think the programme is very valuable for the participants but also there’s an important role for the island as well. It raises the profile and reputation of the island internationally.’

He said the course was providing invaluable assistance to small and developing countries with their financial management for the future.

After a week in the island the 24 participants moved on to Oxford for the second week of the course this week.

The men and women have come from as far afield as the Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean and Africa.

The initiative is supported by the Manx Government in partnership with the World Bank, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Small States Network for Economic Development and Oxford University. Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK said: ‘Our support for the Programme has been good for the Isle of Man too. We are working alongside major international and academic partners, and our key role in this initiative has reinforced recognition of the island as a responsible and co-operative jurisdiction.’

A Peel woman is donating a kidney to a stranger in an amazing act of kindness.

Lesley Tate, 55, a mother of three, who works helping people with learning disabilities, travelled to the Liverpool for the operation to donate the kidney on Monday afternoon.

Speaking just an hour after the operation, Lesley’s husband, Philip, confirmed that everything had gone well and that his wife was comfortable.

Asked what inspired her to make the sacrifice Lesley said: ‘I always had it at the back of my mind but I didn’t really know how to go about it.

‘Then I saw something on television about a living donor program and I decided to go ahead and do it.

‘Also I hoped it might raise awareness that people can do this.

‘I contacted the Renal Unit at Noble’s Hospital at first and I’ve had to undergo lots of tests.

‘Blood tests at first and you’ve got to be classed as in exceptional good health.

‘I’ve had more tests in Liverpool, at first you don’t know if you’ll be eligible.

‘They have to test levels in your kidneys, scans might reveal you’re not fit enough to donate.

‘There are three tubes on the kidney and they’ve got be a match with the person you’re donating the organ to.

‘I wanted to give something back in life, it’s not much of a life if you have to spend eight hours three times a week on a dialysis machine.

‘You don’t need two kidneys.’

When you donate the kidney you are never given any information about who you are donating to but the recipient is given your details should they wish to contact you.

Lesley left on Sunday and will take five days to recouperate in the hospital before she can come home.

Then she will need a couple of months off work.

A Peel teenager has become the first resident artist at St German’s Cathedral in Peel.

Clara Nathan, 18, said: ‘I am extremely proud to be given that title. Being the first is an honour and that is why I am determined not to waste this incredible opportunity.

‘I have already completed three pieces and I am currently working on another.’

Talking about how she first became hooked on art, Clara said: ‘I can’t remember a time where I didn’t paint or draw. Being from a family of four kids our parents encouraged all of us to paint and draw. Our walls are filled with old paintings and my mother has stored all of our drawings.’

Clara completed her A levels this summer and decided to dedicate the rest of summer to doing art.

‘There isn’t a place in my house that I could use everyday to do art,’ she said. ‘Only living two minutes away from the cathedral my mother thought it would be a good idea to ask them if they had a place that I could work in, so I emailed the dean.

‘They got back to me a few days later telling me that there was not a room available but I could, instead, work in the cathedral. I was given a space and named “Artist in Residence” as I will be working there throughout the summer.

‘I am hoping to create quite a few pieces this summer as this is the first time I am able to concentrate solely on what I love: art.’

Dean at the cathedral Nigel Godfrey said: ‘We anticipate this collaboration will be a very positive phase for Clara and, equally, for everyone associated with the cathedral, whether local community or visitors. We hope lots of people will come and see how things develop.’

Small businesses will be able to benefit from the experience of Joe Bromley, pictured receiving his practising certificate from Kreston (IOM) Limited’s chief executive officer David Pope.

Joe manages Kreston’s client accounting services.

He said: ‘Our team is continuing to expand and one of the areas we are targeting is helping the smaller businesses and sole traders, those who would benefit from our advisory services and accountancy clinics, and our wide field of experience.’

Joe qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte Isle of Man and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

While at Deloitte he managed the audit and assurance engagements of a wide variety of clients, with a focus on life insurance, property investment, private equity and collective investment schemes.

At Kreston, Joe is responsible for the accounts and tax compliance of a diverse portfolio of complex international structures, with a strong focus on UK commercial and residential property.

He is also responsible for the group’s due diligence activities on potential acquisitions.

Kreston IOM is the Isle of Man’s representative of Kreston International, a global network of independent accounting firms with 186 member firms employing more than 20,000 staff in over 108 countries (www.kreston.com)

Vandals have targeted children’s play equipment and urinated in plant pots in a series of incidents in recent months at Ballasalla Primary School.

There has also been damage to the drain pipes and roof tiles, also to plants and flowers being grown by the pupils and shrubbery.

Young people also climb onto the roof, putting themselves and others at risk.

‘This is causing a great deal of upset to the children, staff and the wider community itself,’ said head teacher Lyn Ashworth. 
‘We have a lovely environment in which the children take responsibility for looking after the wildlife garden, the planters and their own games equipment and outside toys. It is so distressing to see the damage caused by a minority of youths who don’t seem to realise the impact of their actions.’ Within weeks of new play material arriving, it was trashed.

The school plans to install CCTV to deter vandals.

Constable Lou Kennaugh said: ‘The teachers and staff put a lot of effort into making it a safe and nurturing environment only for it to be harmed by some individuals with no regard for other people’s property. The children put a great deal of work into the area only to find it damaged and broken when they come in for school in the mornings. I urge the local community to help by realising that this school is part of their area and is to be enjoyed by all but at present it is being spoiled by a few.’

In response to the spate of impromptu open air parties being organised on Facebook by youths around the island, an under 18s disco is being held in Port St Mary town hall on Friday.

The party craze of organising last-minute events via Facebook has attracted scores of young people to gatherings.

One was held in Castletown’s Poulsom Park, where several party goers were inebriated and fights broke out. A youth’s jaw was fractured, the police were called and disbanded the group.

Other parties – one inviting children as young as 13 to bring alcohol and a tent to an site in the Douglas area – was stopped by police.

On Facebook, the police issued a statement to parents, asking them: ‘Do you know where your child is tonight?’

Disco organisers Lee Wright and John Faragher, both DJs, decided to join forces and organise the Port St Mary event.

John said: ‘It’s something for younger people to have fun in a safe, controlled environment. With the problems there have been recently and the weather being so nice there has been nothing for the under 18s for a while.

‘It’s about providing things for kids that do not or cannot be bothered finding out what’s going on – you have to spoon feed them.

‘There were parties when I was young, but you might have five or 10 kids. Because of access to communication there are bigger events now.’

In addition to being a DJ, John, a Douglas councillor, former Onchan commissioner and youth worker, also set up the free running gymnastics club.

Lee is a police officer and the event has the backing of the local constabulary.

‘It’s policing with a small “p”. We will search all bags and if there is alcohol, it will all be confiscated,’ said John.

‘If kids are drunk they will not be allowed to come in, the police will be called and they will be dealt with.

‘We want them to have a good time, we want to give them the opportunity to have a good night out without breaking the law or getting into trouble and their parents having to come and pick them up.

‘’We are not going to be sergeant majors, we want to make sure they are safe. Safety first and fun comes second.’

In an email to John about the event, local police Sergeant Gary Heaton wrote: ‘It has the massive plus for us that we will know where our young people are and as an organised event it also keeps them safe as opposed to wandering the streets.’

The disco is from 7.30pm to midnight. Tickets, at £2.50, are available at Memory Lane, Castletown, or Erin News, Port Erin.

To see details and request particular music be played at the disco, see the Facebook page: ‘Energize end of skool summer party’.

For updates and ticket availability, ‘like’ the Facebook page or phone 417119.

A disabled charity worker fears new disability legislation could fall by the wayside because government will run out of time to enact it before the next election.

Keith Fitton, himself a wheelchair user, is service delivery manager for the Leonard Cheshire charity based in Onchan which helps disabled people in the island.

He said a new Equality Act, scheduled for completion in 2016 could well be sidelined by that year’s general election.

On a positive note, he said the proposed Equality Act was an improvement on the Disability Discrimination Act of 2006 (which was never brought into force).

‘Compared to its UK equivalent, our DDA was a watered down version and failed to cover areas like employment and education,’ he said.

‘That’s one reason why I thought the new Equality Act was a good idea. But if it goes through to a new government I can’t imagine it will be high on the agenda of a new Chief Minister.’

In fact, he said businesses had often worried needlessly about the DDA, imagining they would have to invest huge sums of money to comply, when simple measures were often sufficient: ‘I know of a shop in the Wirral where they thought it would cost thousands to build a wheelchair ramp when they simply had to install a door bell at wheelchair height. He gained a lot of new customers who had not been able to shop there before. The requirement is simply to make ‘‘reasonable provision’’,’ Mr Fitton said.

Recently (Independent July 10) the island’s Deaf Champion Gareth Foulkes was left stranded at the Sea Terminal in Douglas after his assistance dog was refused entry to a taxi. Mr Foulkes said legislation would have prevented this. Douglas West MHK Chris Thomas and Douglas South MHK Kate Beecroft will ask questions in Tynwald today (Tuesday) on the progress of disability legislation. A new equality bill goes to public consultation shortly.

It’s too early to say how the pendulum might swing on VAT, says Chief Minister Allan Bell.

Mr Bell said a data collection exercise that will ultimately determine the island’s share of VAT revenue was drawing to a close.

He told the Examiner: ‘We’re expecting a final outcome certainly by the end of the year. All the data has been gathered and both sides now are considering the implications. It’s too early to say which way the pendulum might swing.

‘Clearly it’s a matter of concern that we have a positive outcome. It’s going to be challenge if we take a further hit. But we do have substantial reserves available if a negative outcome was to be agreed.

‘We’re not planning for a loss but we need to recognise a reduction might take place. It would be wrong to speculate as we just don’t know.

‘Losing a third of our income was a massive blow. We are close to rebalancing our finances. The economy is growing strongly again, generating new revenue. The Isle of Man clearly is in a stronger position to withstand any changes.’

Data from 80 per cent of businesses is currently being analysed.

Results of a survey of household income and expenditure were published earlier this month.

Tynwald members weren’t given the chance to debate important topics.

That was an allegation after this week’s sitting.

Today’s Manx Independent has more on this and all the big Tynwald stories,

On the front page there’s a photo of the Viking ship that visited Peel.

Inside, we meet a teacher’s who’s retiring after 38 years.

We also look at a commemoration of the start of the First World War that’s happening across the UK but which isn’t being promoted in the Isle of Man.

In Island Life, we look forward to Douglas Carnival.

We have 12 action-paged pages of sport and your seven-day television guide.

Also this week, we asked schoolchildren to design advertisements for real Manx companies.

We have their results in a special supplement.

The Manx Independent is in the shops now.

This week, IoM Friends of the Earth’s co-Ordinator Cat Turner reports on a great day of campaigning at Tynwald Fair, celebrating our national day in the Isle of Man and encouraging residents to keep it a terrific place to live and work

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This year, as in previous years, the Green Centre team was out in force at Tynwald’s fair, with four (FOUR!!!) gazebos and lots of information and ideas for the public.

Isle of Man Friends of the Earth teamed up with its allies at Zero Waste Mann (recycling and waste reduction), the Manx Energy Advice Centre (renewables, insulation and energy efficiency) and Beach Buddies (beach cleaning volunteer events).

And what a great day it was! The sun shone, the crowds were there in force, and we were glad we had some new members helping out, because we fielded lots of enquiries and suggestions from the public.

IoM FoE campaigns on lots of different areas, as regular readers will know, but we decided that for this day we’d focus on one ‘grass roots’ campaign which we already know matters a lot to the public, and for which we chose bees and biodiversity bee-friendly planting.

In addition we also chose one ‘big issue’, reflecting the fact that the Isle of Man, as an international finance centre, is deeply embedded in the way the global economic system works.

So we promoted our NO TTIP day – a protest action held on July 12 at the Green Centre, in connection with the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Pact, with the potential to undo years of hard-won progress in environmental, employment and safety protections.

We were pretty much cleaned out of literature and give-aways relating to the bees – the ‘Make a Bee-and-Bee’ instructions were massively popular, especially with youngsters and their families.

And speaking personally, as the wearer of the bee suit (on one of the hottest days of the year), I got more hugs from people than I’ve had in ages. Bonus!

But the biggest surprise, if I’m honest, was how many people wanted to discuss TTIP – we thought it’d be a bit of a dry and technical subject, but of course we have a very financially literate and aware population since so many people here work in the finance /tax industry.

So many people ‘got it’ right away, and have said they would support our day of action – because like it or not, if it goes through, the Isle of Man would be massively affected because it’s a dependency of an EU member state.

TTIP effectively gives multinational corporations the ability to over-ride a government’s ability to protect its national interests, and those of its people – and it allows the company to sue that government for lost profits, if its environmental or other laws prevent the company from doing what it wants there.

This means losing some of our most hard-won personal and environmental protections, such as labour rights, food safety rules (including restrictions on GMOs), regulations on the use of toxic chemicals, digital privacy laws and even new banking safeguards introduced to prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis.

And they can sue a country that tries to enforce these in secret. And even if the government wins, it would still be liable to pay for the company’s legal costs. You couldn’t make this stuff up . . .

If you’re concerned about this, and how it might affect our independent little nation’s future economy and environment, take a look at War on Want’s excellent guide on the issues at www.waronwant.org/campaigns/trade-justice/more/inform/18078-what-is-ttip. As one of those multinational companies’ brands would say: ‘Because You’re Worth It’.

Richard Barker, of Ballabeg Farm, St Judes Road, Andreas, bought ‘Fingan’, 28 Majestic Close, Onchan, for £1,500,000.

It was bought from John Charles Tomlinson and Julie Ann Tomlinson.

It was bought from John Charles Tomlinson and Julie Ann Tomlinson.

Other recent transactions lodged at the General Registry in Douglas are as follows:

Wolf Dieter Moser sold Ballabooie, Ballabooie Road, Linague, for £880,000, to Western Land and Cattle Company Limited, whose registered office is at Ballakilleyclieu, Barregarrow, Michael.

Richard Christian Colquitt and Suzanne Elizabeth Colquitt sold Clagh Mooar, Foxdale, for £564,000, to Robert Charles Faragher and Sarah Frances Faragher.

David Salkeld, of 6 Slieau Ree, Union Mills, sold 51 Howe Road, Onchan, for £330,000, to David Philip Prictor and Carol Elizabeth Keates, of 5 Richmond Court, Ramsey.

John Douglas Solly, of Gibraltar, sold Ardenvohr, Hilary Park, Douglas, for £325,000, to Anthony Wilson and Margaret Wilson, of Apartment 4, 4 Merton Bank, Douglas.

Triggiano Limited, whose registered office is at 8 St George’s Street, Douglas, sold a parcel of land abutting Glen Road and Minorca Hill, Laxey, for £310,000, to Serendipity Limited, whose registered office is at The Manse, Minorca Hill, Laxey.

Brian George Cain and Joyce Carolyn Cain sold Windy Ridge, 10 Cronk Drine, Union Mills, for £290,000 to Graham John Hooper and May Smith Hooper, of 27 Westminster Drive, Douglas.

Cheryl-Lynn Joyce White, of Apartment 7, 1 Strathallan Crescent, Douglas, sold 38 Hillcroft, Douglas, for £250,000 to Philip John Crellin and Emma Rachel Latham, of 22 Heather Lane, Douglas.

Blands Insurance Brokers Limited, whose registered office is at Nelson House, 2 Prospect Hill, Douglas, sold 2 Prospect Hill, Douglas, for £200,000, to Bhaskara Limited, whose registered office is at Nelson House, 2 Prospect Hill, Douglas.

Helen Elizabeth Gough sold 8 Avondale Road, Onchan, for £170,000, to Anne Graham, of 10 Lezayre Park, Ramsey.

Susan Angela Dunn sold 46 Glenfaba Road, Peel, for £172,500, to Liam Moffatt and Kirstin McDougall, of 6a Patrick Street, Peel.

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We publish details of all house sales unless we receive a written request from the police or probation services.

There are signs all around Onchan Parish Church saying: ‘No dog fouling by order of Onchan Burial Authority.’ We human beings know what this means.

But do the dogs?

There are no dogs of my acquaintance who can read English although some fond owners insist that their pets understand every word they say, which could be true. But to confront them with the printed words ‘No Dog Fouling’ will mean nothing to them.

They will simply drop their little doggie dumplings when and where they decide it is the best thing to do.

Of course, the message is that dog owners should pick up and take the dumplings away and dispose of them hygienically. But catching them in the first place will call for a keen eye, fast reflexes and remarkable speed and agility if the dog owners are going to go into a running dive and get their hands under there in time to make a clean catch.

After this, however, they should not be encouraged to throw them back in the air in triumph as do slip fielders in cricket.

All right. I am being guilty of pedantry and there are plenty of the likes of me around the place and I have been encouraged to begin a Pedants’ Corner for the benefit of my world-wide readership. For instance, consider the following:

A woman finds her husband in bed with another woman. She cries: ‘I’m surprised at you.’ He replies: ‘It is me who is surprised. You are astonished.’

It will be seen that my Pedants’ Corner will be open to all contributions from outside by the position of the apostrophe.

They don’t call me Her Majesty’s Apostropher General in the Isle of Man for nothing.

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Sara Goodwins emails: ‘I was walking along the Maughold Road a few days ago and was stopped by a couple in a car who wanted to know where the A15 road was. They looked rather taken aback when I told them they were on it. Then they asked whether it was the right road for Mold, which I thought was in Wales. Seeing my obvious bewilderment they pointed to it on a map.’

It was Maughold.

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At last, a Manxman has won the men’s singles at Wimbledon. All hail, Novak Djoughinovic!

His parents are leading members of the Serbian Manx Society, you know.

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Sean emails to say that these days food labels warn that the products within may contain nuts, even when it’s peanuts. He adds that there is even a factory near Liverpool Airport with a sign saying no nuts are allowed on site.

I don’t know what they make at the factory. Nutcrackers perhaps.

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Richard Hetherington tells me the Sunday Telegraph re-printed some of the famous crosswords of shortly before D-Day which caused security alarms with answers including the code names of forthcoming landing beaches in Normandy. In one, for May 30, 1944, he also found the following Manx clue: ‘Man’s justice (8) – DEEMSTER.’

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Church notice: ‘The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.’

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The photograph in the middle of the text of Cringle Moor, sent to me by regular contributor Mrs P, was in the Daily Telegraph Saturday magazine.

This handsome stone seat for the benefit of hikers is on the Cleveland Way in North Yorkshire.

It will go with, in the Isle of Man, the Cringle Plantation, Cringle Reservoir and Cringle Park.

My property portfolio is expanding nicely.