The issue of surplus school places on the Isle of Wight and the possibility of several primary schools closing is still very much under discussion, as the man who will head up the newly independent children’s services department has been announced.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, the Cabinet member for Children’s Services, Education and Corporate Functions, reiterated that parents, pupils and staff would be informed and consulted on about any changes,
“We have to address the issue of excess places in the entire school estate on the Isle of Wight. The issue affects the whole Island and, as I said in Full Council last week, is directly related to the key concern of raising educational standards on the Island.
“In the new year, once our new senior education management team is in place, we will be going out to the public to provide information on the issues that must be addressed and, most importantly, to listen to parents, staff and children to have a transparent and open discussion about how to go forward.”
Bacon: All schools will go into it on an equal footing
Although the council had previously named specific schools earmarked for possible closure, causing unnecessary distress and uncertainty, this time “all schools will go into it on an equal footing”, says the Cabinet member.
He stated,
“The whole school estate will be under consideration when this discussion about place planning commences again, as it must. It will be a fresh process and all schools will go into it on an equal footing.
“This means that neither the three schools originally mentioned in the process earlier this year, nor indeed any school, is or will be identified at this stage as being proposed for closure.”
The council faced a backlash from parents and some education staff on the way they handled the previous consultation, but the former responsible cabinet member, Debbie Andre, eventually took responsibility for the mishandling.
A group of headteachers have argued for more than a year that some schools must close in order for all Isle of Wight children to receive a good education.
Bacon: Informed view by Easter
Councillor Bacon went on to explain,
“The aim is to reach a fully informed view as to what steps need to be taken and to do so by Easter next year.
“If, as seems more than likely, some schools are identified for potential closure, the reasons for this must be clearly communicated and understood and there must be full support for all who stand to be affected, including staff, parents, children and local communities, including clear information about what options arise and how the impacts of any closure are to be addressed. All options and potential alternatives will be considered.
“Any formal statutory process that is required is likely to commence in the summer term of 2024 and, if followed through any closures, or other measures that result will take effect from Autumn 2025.”
Bacon: I hope that we will look at things as widely as possible
The Cabinet member finished by saying,
“With the input of our new management team I hope that we will look at things as widely as possible and, in fact, create a rolling plan to address the needs of our local school system going forward.
“The key focus of this and indeed all school related activity will be to improve stability, sustainability and standards in our education system.”
