Update: Previous title: David Pugh Recommending Option Three: 31 Schools To Close?
Thanks to the council press office for the quick call, pointing out that David Pugh hasn’t said he’d recommend option three, simply that he’d recommend two tier tonight.
Well, you (and the council press office) will have to excuse our presumption that he will recommend option three after stating publicly that he’d recommend two tier, because in the final week of the public consultation, Pugh and Wells both stated to me on IW radio that Niton school was safe and would not be closed, labelling option 2 “not viable” (Niton would close if option 2 was chosen).
Silly of us to make assumptions – we’ll just have to wait and see what he says tonight, maybe he will surprise us all and recommend option 2 – or even better, scrap the whole thing (as many wish he would).
Anyone who has been following the Schools Reforms debate will know that tonight the full council will make their decision on one of the three options (we’ll be covering it live) which have been put on the table by the Director of Children’s Services, Steve Beynon.
David Pugh has made it known that, despite supporting a three tier system before his party came to power in 2005, that he now supports a two tier system and will be recommending Option Three to the council members tonight.
After looking through the councils pamphlet, under this option, 31 schools are earmarked for closure:
Gurnard Primary School, Cowes
Love Lane Primary School, Cowes
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, East Cowes
Whippingham Primary School
Binstead Primary School
Greenmount Primary School, Ryde
Oakfield CE Primary School
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Ryde
Bembridge CE Primary School
St Helen’s Primary School, Bembridge
Brading CE Primary School
Broadlea Primary School
Gatten and Lake Primary School
St John’s CE Primary School
Chale CE Primary School
Godshill Primary School
St Boniface CE Primary
St Margaret’s CE Primary School, Ventnor
St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, Ventnor
Wroxall Primary School
All Saints CE Primary School
Weston Primary School, West Wight
Yarmouth CE Primary School, West Wight
Arreton St George’s CE Primary School
Carisbrooke CE Primary
Chillerton and Rookley Primary School
Hunnyhill Primary School, Newport
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, Newport
Summerfields Primary School, Newport
Nodehill Middle School
Trinity CE Middle School
Support or Oppose this?
If you’re a concerned parent or have an interest in what happens to the education system on the Island, it’ll be a good idea to get down to the Council Chamber for the debate starting at 6pm today at County Hall.
If you really can’t make it along, as we said, we will be reporting it live from the Council Chamber.
Logon from 6pm to make sure you catch the full action.
