Government Education

Diploma will need to finish the two year course with a minimum grade of triple merit (MMM). CIFEC currently offers two BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas in a) Creative Media Film & TV and b) Business. However, these are only offered to Certificate level (equivalent to AS Levels), since you can only attend CIFEC for one year, and to reach Diploma level you would have had to complete a two year course.

AP, CAPE and IB Students Although two-year funding was previously only offered for A Level and BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma students in their second year, as of Fall 2021/22, this funding now extends to first-year students in the International Baccalaureate (IB), the Advanced Placement (AP) programme and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). Scholarship funding is therefore now available to Caymanian students who are going into their first and/or second year of studying AP, CAPE and IB. For far more information, visit the Scholarships section of the Cayman Resident website or the Department of Education's Scholarships website: www. education.gov.ky.

Office of Education Standards Individual school reports, published on the Office of Education Standards’ website (www.oes.gov.ky) provide detailed, impartial and transparent assessments of the performance of schools, teachers and students in the Cayman Islands. These reports are available for all to read and are a useful tool for parents to inform themselves of how their children’s schools perform compared to others, or aid them in deciding which school is best for their child. All schools are now inspected once every two years, as opposed to once every four years, as previously mandated by the Education Act (2016).

Please note that you will find more information about Education options on- and off-Island in the Cayman Parent magazine, available at supermarkets or online at www.caymanparent.com. Literacy Programmes & Support The independent, not-for-profit organisation, Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE) (SEE AD PAGE 436), works alongside government, local schools, and educators to advocate for quality education for all, and to provide LIFE-changing resources and volunteer power to positively impact and significantly improve literacy levels. LIFE is the largest donor of books into the public school system with 44,000 books donated, and counting. Their programmes include Paired Reading, where specially trained volunteers read with struggling readers for 30 minutes each week; Partners in Print, which offers parents and caregivers tips and tricks to support literacy within the home; Education for Everyone, a collaborative initiative providing laptops to close the digital divide; and Thrive By Five, LIFE’s latest early childhood literacy programme, targeting the development of foundational literacy skills in the 0–5 age group. To donate or volunteer, email: volunteer@life. org.ky. For further information on any of LIFE’s transformative programmes, call (345) 925 2740, visit www.life.org.ky, or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

GOVERNMENT EDUCATION

Students enroling in Government primary and high schools must register with the

Department of Education Services (at 130 Thomas Russell Way, George Town, Grand

Cayman), or the Cayman Brac Teacher’s Centre, in the months between the end of the Easter holidays and before the end of the school year (in early July). You will need to complete an application form, upload a copy of the child’s birth certificate, immunisation card, and documentation showing the child’s residency category (i.e. a passport or status letter). Parents must also supply two forms of proof of their street address by presenting a utility bill and lease or a notarised letter from a landlord if renting. Catchment areas determine which school your child will attend.

Priority for entry into a Government school goes first to Caymanians/Status holders, then to dependants of Caymanians, thirdly to dependants of Cayman Islands Government employees, then to permanent residents and lastly to all others where space is available. Class sizes are capped at 24 students per class for Reception and Year 1, and at 28 students in other years.

GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS All eight of Grand Cayman's Government primary schools and both primary schools in Cayman Brac have a Kindergarten/ Reception year. Therefore, Caymanian children who are four by August 31st can start in Reception/Kindergarten (the same as the private schools) and stay in the primary school system until the end of Year 6 (aged 10, turning 11). Expat children who have been given permission to attend a government school cannot start in Reception at the age of four; they have to wait until they are five years of age and can then start in Year 1. This is because compulsory education does not start in the Cayman Islands until age 5. At the end of Year 6, students take Key Stage II exams which assesses and levels them for movement to secondary school. The high school then uses the first term to assess each child for academic streaming. See www. des.edu.ky for more information on the schools listed below:

Creek Infant & Spot Bay Primary School (Brac) Tel: (345) 948 0226 Creek Infant School, which is located on 28 Student Drive in Cayman Brac, covers Reception to Year 3. Spot Bay Primary School, which is located on 170 Spot Bay Road, Cayman Brac covers Years 4, 5 and 6. The school is located on two different sites but are managed and run by the same team. Catchment Area: All areas East of Faith Hospital to the Eastern end of Cayman Brac. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2019

East End Primary School 17 Sea View Road, East End Tel: (345) 947 7428 Catchment Area: Area to the east of the Frank Sound junction, and all of East End to Colliers. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2020

Edna M. Moyle Primary School 907 North Side Road, North Side Tel: (345) 947 9516 Catchment Area: All of Frank Sound up to Old Man Bay (west) and to Cayman Kai. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2020

George Town Primary School 168 School Road, George Town Tel: (345) 949 2689 Catchment Area: Area south of Government House up to Memorial Avenue. North along Walkers Road to Maple Road, and east along Smith Road up to the Crewe Road airport junction. Plus the area that is north of Airport Road, through the Junction in Industrial Park, and all areas north and east past the airport up to North Sound. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2020

Joanna Clarke Primary School (was Savannah Primary School) 1659 Shamrock Road, Savannah Tel: (345) 947 1344 Catchment Area: Area on the east side of Spotts-Newlands Road to Beach Bay Road, and including the greater Pedro area. Note: Joanna Clarke offers the IB system from Kindergarten to Year 6. Inspection Grade: Weak, OES 2019

Little Cayman Education Service Tel: (345) 948 1052 Catchment Area: All of Little Cayman. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2020

Prospect Primary School 169 Poindexter Road, Prospect Tel: (345) 947 8889 Catchment Area: All areas from Prospect Drive eastward, to the west side of Spotts-Newlands Road and the west side of Chime Street on the Bypass/East/West Arterial (including all of Prospect Park, Patrick’s Island, Ocean Club, Cascades Drive etc.). Note: Prospect Primary offers the IB system from Kindergarten to Year 6. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2020 Tel: (345) 947 6333 Catchment Area: Area on the south side of Memorial Avenue, along Walkers Road to Maple Road and south side of Smith Road, both sides of Crewe Road bordered by Owen Roberts Drive to the North, and South Sound to the South Sound Boarder on the east side of Victory Avenue. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2020

Sir John A. Cumber Primary School 44 Fountain Road, West Bay Tel: (345) 949 3314 Catchment Area: Area north of Government House up to Cobalt Coast and including all of West Bay. Note: Sir John Cumber Primary offers the IB system from Kindergarten to Year 6. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2020

West End Primary School (Brac) 10 East West End Road, Cayman Brac Tel: (345) 948 1425 Catchment Area: West end of Cayman Brac, up to Faith Hospital on the north side of the Island, and correspondingly across the Island to the south coast. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2021

Theoline L. McCoy Primary School (was Bodden Town Primary School) 6 Condor Road, Bodden Town Tel: (345) 947 2288 Catchment Area: Area to the east of Beach Bay Road, continuing up to Breakers and including Northward. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2020

See www.caymanresident.com for a map of the catchment areas for Cayman's Government schools.

GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOLS & FURTHER EDUCATION High School Options There are three Government high schools in the Cayman Islands: two in Grand Cayman (Clifton Hunter High School in Frank Sound and John Gray High School on Academy Way in George Town), and one in Cayman Brac (the Layman E. Scott Snr. High School). Clifton Hunter and John Gray serve Years 7–11 for students aged 11–16, while Layman Scott Snr. serves Years 7–12, for students aged 11–17. In addition, Clifton Hunter and John Gray students complete a mandatory Year 12 offsite.

Curriculum Students follow the Cayman Islands National Curriculum up to Year 9. In Year 10, students begin their preparation for internationally accredited external examinations by following the relevant syllabi. All students complete a two year programme of classes (Years 10 and 11) in the core subjects of English, Maths, Science, Physical Education and Life Skills and have the option of taking three additional subjects of their choice. Students then take exams set either by a UK exam board (GCSE), the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE) or they can take the USA Advanced Placement (AP) level exams at the end of Year 11. All students are then automatically enrolled in the compulsory Year 12 (one academic year) programme at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC), where they can take an array of business and technology courses (BTEC), get involved in work experience and internships, or retake CXC and GCSE exams to improve their grade standing. There is also the option for students to enrol in a Dual Entry programme such as A Levels at St. Ignatius or Cayman Prep and High School, an approved accredited school overseas (this option at the student’s expense), or attend the University College of the Cayman Islands and work on an Associate's Degree. After completing their Year 12 programme, students graduate from their respective secondary schools at the compulsory school leaving age of 17. Students who do not have the minimum five external passes (at CSEC or GCSE) after graduating from high school, may have the opportunity to be admitted to UCCI’s Pre-College Matriculation programme, where they can obtain transferable college credits. This programme allows students to take foundation level courses in Maths,

English and college skills in order to prepare students to transition into an Associate's Degree programme.

Exam Fees It is worth noting that whilst all education is free for Caymanians (at Government schools), parents are still liable to pay for exam entry fees. This means that they have to pay for every CXC, GCSE or BTEC course (British and Technology Education Council) that is taken. Fees are approximately CI$25 per subject for CXCs, CI$50 per GCSE and between CI$110 and CI$250 per BTEC Vocational Qualification, depending on the subject and the level.

Graduation Rules & Exams To graduate with a High School Diploma, all students leaving a Government high school must attain one of four academic levels (Level 2 with High Honours, Level 2 with Honours, Level 2 Diploma, Level 1 Diploma – the highest being Level 2 with High Honours). In addition, during their last three years (Years 10–12) they must have at least a 90% or more attendance record, have less than 14 days of suspension and have completed 10 hours of community service. For exams, a minimum of five passes at CXC or GCSE, including Maths and English, are considered necessary for entry to the A Level programme at either St. Ignatius or Cayman Prep. However, both of these schools do not count Early Childhood Studies and Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM) as access courses. Further requirements include a minimum grade pass at A*–C or 1–3 are essential if applying for a Government scholarship. For those in the US system, a 2.75 GPA is considered necessary for entry to a university course, but a 3.0 GPA is necessary to qualify for a Cayman Islands Government university scholarship. For those who go on to Level 3 (International Baccalaureate or Advanced Placements, A Levels or an Associate's degree at UCCI) after leaving high school, Government High Schools All three Government high schools follow the Cayman Islands National Curriculum from Years 7–9 and do CXCs or GCSE from Years 10–11. Even though they do not have a Year 12, that year must be spent in full-time education.

Clifton Hunter High School 311 Frank Sound Road, Frank Sound Tel: (345) 949 9488 or (345) 947 7353 Catchment Area: All areas on the east side of Spotts-Newlands Road, and on the east side of Chime Street, the Bypass or the East/West Arterial. Inspection Grade: Satisfactory, OES 2021

John Gray High School 73 Academy Way, George Town Tel: (345) 949 9444 Catchment Area: All areas on the west side of Spotts-Newlands Road, and on the west side of Chime Street, the Bypass or the East/West Arterial. Inspection Grade: Good, OES 2021

Layman E. Scott Sr. High School (Brac) 941 A Dennis Foster Road, Cayman Brac Tel: (345) 948 2226 Catchment Area: All areas of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Inspection Grade: Good, OES 2021

FURTHER EDUCATION

CI Further Education Centre (CIFEC) 515 Walkers Road, George Town Director: Mr. Pedro Lazzari Tel: (345) 949 3285 Email: plazzari@cifec.edu.ky Ages: 16-18 Curriculum: CIFEC offers BTEC and City and Guilds vocational courses at Levels 1–3, which are the equivalent of GCSE (level 2) and AS Levels (level 3), offering an effective bridge to university or the world of work. Each TVET programme includes an internship with an employer. One hundred and eight employers work with CIFEC and many students find