A major consultation on proposals that could result in the closure of six Isle of Wight primary schools finishes on Friday (1st November 2024).
The Isle of Wight council’s school place planning consultation has aimed to gather ‘crucial’ input on plans to reduce the ‘significant’ current number of surplus Island primary school places and expand special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.
Published last month, the proposals are part of County Hall’s development of a new education strategy to ‘transform educational outcomes’ for pupils.
Facing closure
Schools that could face closure are Arreton CE Primary School, Oakfield CE Primary School, Brading CE Primary School, Cowes Primary School, Wroxall Primary School and Godshill Primary School.
High numbers of surplus places make it difficult to properly resource schools and ensure their finances are sound, according to the plans.
The Isle of Wight school place planning proposals document (2024 – 2030) said,
“To make sure we provide the best possible education and best use of resources, the views of parents and carers of school age and pre-school age children are of the utmost importance to these plans.
“Any changes are proposed to take place at the beginning of the new school term in September 2025.
“The proposed consultation is about options for how to reduce the number of school places so that more schools are full and so maximise their ability to educate children successfully.”
Plans to expand SEND provision
The council’s ‘ambitious’ plan to expand SEND provision is in response to a higher than national rise in young people with special educational needs on the Island coupled with previous under investment.
Expansion of SEND provision has been underway since February this year and has included opening St George’s School (The Studio) in East Cowes, expanding resource provision at Greenmount Primary School and increasing the number of places at Medina House School.
Peer review
County Hall’s suggested direction of travel has however been controversial.
Though endorsed by a national body, the Local Government Association, as directly linked to better educational outcomes, the plans have also provoked opposition in the form of public meetings, petitions and protests across the Island.
Public opposition
Last Monday, protesters including parents and children marched through Newport town centre to express their grievances, including disruption for pupils, their admiration for at-risk institutions and longer journeys to and from schools.
Among them was Unison’s Isle of Wight local government branch secretary, Mark Chiverton, who said the policy of joint trade unions including Unison, GMB and the National Education Union was to oppose the council’s ‘flawed’ proposals in their current form.
Have your say
Views can be submitted to the council via its website.
In December this year, County Hall’s cabinet will receive a report to consider which contains the findings of the consultation and a suggested way forward.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
