Parents and staff at St Mary’s School in Ryde have been reassured that the school remains open and is not at risk at the present time.
Councillor Michael Lilley (LibDem) explained to residents via his Website that a school place plan report is not scheduled to go to Cabinet for some time, and that it has been confirmed that schools will not be named as previously.
A busy day saw Councillor Lilley communicating with concerned parents and staff of St Mary’s School regarding the IW Forward Plan. The plan previously named schools, but this has since been removed.
Anger and distress: The community speaks out
Parents and staff who attended Councillor Lilley’s August monthly ward meeting were extremely angered by IW Council’s actions. As a result, a letter was written to the Leader of IW council, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, outlining the community’s dissatisfaction.
In the letter, Councillor Lilley expressed support for the anger and distress caused by the council’s handling of the School Place Plan, citing unprofessional and insensitive actions that have led to unnecessary distress during the summer holidays.
Demands and expectations: A way forward
The letter further detailed the emotional turmoil experienced by children, parents, staff and school governors of three Island Schools over a 24-hour period. It pointed to feelings of anxiety, distress, worry, and depression caused by the way the School Place Plan was managed.
A meeting held on 4th August 2023, highlighted the anger of the parents and staff of St Mary’s School. Accusations were made that no lessons were learnt from previous mishandlings, and that there was a lack of transparency and respect in the decision-making process.
Public shaming and loss of confidence
The community members felt humiliated, said Councillor Lilley, with their school “publicly shamed and unfairly targeted”. Many felt that the process had been badly planned and implemented, leading to destruction and panic within the affected schools.
The situation with St Mary’s School was particularly emphasised, as the school had to endure two waves of shock announcements. It was labelled as “totally incompetent and not forgivable” by Councillor Lilley.
The community’s demands: A call for action
A list of specific demands was laid out in the letter, including the resignation of the Cabinet Member of Children Services and Education, Debbie Andre, a full investigation into the issue, a consultative and inclusive approach to School Place Planning, and a public apology from IW council.
Additionally, the community requested a public meeting to express their feelings, an address of alleged discrimination, assurances against future incompetence, and transparency in establishing an efficient and openly transparent Children’s Services and Education Department.
Appreciation and advocacy: A voice for the community
Councillor Lilley’s efforts in communicating the community’s concerns were met with appreciation. Responses included:
“I feel that you have communicated the depth of feeling very clearly. Thank you for advocating on our behalf”
and
“This is the best response I have read so far to the situation. I thank you and all staff and parents thank you. This has obviously taken a large amount of effort.”
In closing, Councillor Lilley affirmed his role as an advocate for the voices of his residents, pledging to keep the community updated on any responses received. The overall tone reflected a strong desire for improved communication, empathy, and effective decision-making from the IW council in the future.
