Biography

Dr Jo Wood was educated at Leeds, Bradford and Manchester universities in the UK. Jo is passionate about education and committed to capacity building. She is now Chief Policy Advisor for Education in the Cayman Islands and has previously held senior leadership roles in system reform in the UK and the Middle East. She was formerly the National Executive Director of School Reviews (school inspections) and Deputy Chief of the Quality Assurance Authority for Education and Training (QAAET) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She was a Director of a company based in Dubai where she provided advice on policy and strategy for school improvement in a number of countries across the Middle East as well as in South Africa. Jo has held various positions in the voluntary sector, including Trustee of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Foundation for Race Relations, Trustee of Salford Young People’s University, governor of a Sixth Form College and Chair of the Greater Manchester Investors in People Panel.

Article Title

Education Reform: Building an Infrastructure for Raising Standards and Improving Quality of Provision in a Unique Caymanian Context

Abstract

In 2009, with a change in Government, a newly appointed Minister of Education was appointed. Passionate about education, he was determined to raise standards and improve the quality of education in the Cayman Islands. Drawing on global research of school and system improvement as well as first hand observation of best international practice, a major reform programme was begun which contributes significantly to nation building and developing a system uniquely Caymanian.

This study sets out the background to system reform in the Cayman Islands and reflects on the issues unique to the Cayman Islands. It identifies national priorities for school improvement and the strategic steps taken to create the architecture which will support the development of a world class education system and build internal capacity.

Set against the backdrop of local and international experience of improving school systems, the study evaluates progress already made, identifies the challenges ahead and maps out the pathway to continuing improvement.