According to the grading scale used by the inspectors, "satisfactory" means "adequate in most areas, no significant weaknesses, but no major strengths". However,  AEC's Principal Raphael Daniel said that his school has much to be proud of.

The AEC is the only facility of its kind in the Cayman Islands for students, aged 12 to 17 years, who have been excluded from their high schools due to behavioural difficulties.

The centre offers three main programmes - a suspension unit, tutorial unit, and transition unit.

The inspection came as a result of a decision taken by the Ministry of Education to inspect all schools as part of Government's scheme to improve the education system.

The AEC's inspection took place between 13 -16 June and involved a team of four inspectors, including the centre's link inspector.

According to the Inspectors' report, the AEC staff provided a very caring, safe and secure environment for students and that good relationships are a feature of the centre's positive ethos.

The report also stated that the centre is successful in enabling many of its students, some of whom have complex emotional, social and mental health problems, to make considerable improvements in their behaviour and attitudes towards learning.

Other strengths highlighted within the school is that it improves the behaviour of many students, it helps raise students' confidence, self-esteem and concentration and that the transition unit prepares students well for being more effective members of society and for the world of work, there are effective links with parents, carers, guardians and the community.

However, there were a number of areas identified for improvement. For instance, communication within the centre; the curriculum, particularly for students in the tutorial unit; the system for monitoring students' performance throughout the centre, the effectiveness of some of the teaching and the understanding of the role and purpose of the suspension unit and the way it is used by the high schools.

The students' attendance and punctuality were also rated as 'unsatisfactory' because students were late for their classes and sometimes not showing up at all.

However teachers are reportedly encouraging regular attendance, maintaining strong links with the students' parents and following proper procedures for reporting absentees.

Principal Daniel told Cayman Net News that the issue of poor attendance and punctuality is not surprising in such a school.

He explained that there is no form of transportation for some of the students.
"This is probably a form of punishment," he remarked.

He pointed out however, that there is also a cohort of students who attend class regularly. These are the students that are wards of the state. This means that they have been ordered by the court to be at Bonaventure home or Frances Bodden, where transportation is provided on a daily basis.

"We have no problems with these students since they are transported to and from school with regularity and punctuality," Mr Daniel said.

Another reason that the principal pointed out is that many of the students have court matters.

"They would attend court for a whole day, and the matter would be adjourned, so they have to keep going back," Mr Daniel said.

He indicated that some of the students are transported in their parents' vehicles, but not all are so fortunate. Those who are in the transition unit are young adults whose parents might have given up on them due to their rebellious attitudes and their use of drugs. These students are left on their own to find their way to school.

"The fact that they show up at all is remarkable!"  Mr Daniel noted, adding that the AEC should not be compared to any regular school.

"That is why we are 'alternative'," he said.

"These are teenagers that have been expelled from school, due to behavioural problems."

He also emphasised the point - the fact that the students show up for classes which is a good indication they understand that they need to finish school and they want to graduate.

On the issue of the curriculum, Mr Daniel explained that because of the nature of the programmes- the fact that they are so different and inadequate - the problems are inevitable.

The centre is expected to modify its existing improvement plan or to prepare a supplementary action plan to address the areas for improvement previously mentioned.

It has already started working towards upgrading its programmes, by adding a few more vocational subjects to its curriculum. Those include hairdressing, culinary arts and technical drawing.

"We have just opened a beauty salon, which is in operation and doing very well," Mr. Daniel said. He pointed out that that the aim is to provide a menu that the students can choose from, identify an area of strength and excel.

These new additions to the school are being funded by the Ministry of Education.

Currently there are 29 students at the AEC; 16 from the John Gray High School are in the transition unit.

Mr Daniel proudly announced that all, except two students in the tutorial unit, earned their way back into their classrooms. He explained that the two who could not be reintegrated suffer from psychological problems.

The AEC will also be employing additional staff, the school is in the process of recruiting a full-time substance abuse counsellor and a part-time psychologist will also be assigned to the students.

It is his hope that each student will have his or her own social worker.

Mr Daniel recommended that liaison officers be assigned to the school, to work with the various parties involved.

The school only has four teachers and five support staff. He agreed that the teachers need additional training to assist them in dealing with the students.

He however commended their efforts. "I really appreciate the efforts that are being made by teachers.

By the time they get in here at 8:30 am, our teachers are hard-pressed to leave this compound, because these students need constant supervision," he said.

"They are very loyal and hardworking and I think they should be commended by the public for the kind of service they do beyond the call of duty," he added.

Mr Daniel emphasised that the AEC is making progress and is proud.

"It was said in the radio and TV reports that we are one step from inadequate, well I want to turn that around and say 'we are just one step from good'"

The school is also required to provide parents with an annual update on the progress that is being made in addressing the areas identified as needing to improve.

Some strengths have been maintained, but the AEC will continue to need external help to move forward, particularly in those areas that are outside of its control.