Under fire councillors faced a barrage of criticism and questions from Isle of Wight parents and campaigners over controversial school closure plans, at last night’s (Thursday) crucial meeting.
The secretary of Unison’s Isle of Wight branch said he could not recall a single issue in 40 years in the role that has caused “so much disquiet and unease” and said the whole credibility of the council is being “undermined in the eyes of its staff and the public”.
Questions were put to the Isle of Wight council’s cabinet over concerns with initial recommendations to close Cowes Primary School, Arreton St Georges CE Primary School, Brading CE Primary School, Godshill Primary School, Wroxall Primary School and Oakfield CE Primary School.
Accusations of “factual inaccuracies”
Later in the evening meeting, the ruling Alliance administration panel provisionally agreed to the closures, with the exception of Godshill Primary School.
Jen Hughes, a parent representative at Oakfield CE Primary School, said,
“How can this cabinet, in good conscience, be expected to vote on the school place planning proposal in its current form, when it is full of factual inaccuracies and marred by procedural unfairness and expressions of impending legal action if it is passed?”
Bacon: My view is that this matter has been dealt with appropriately
Councillor Jonathan Bacon (pictured), cabinet member for children’s services, education and corporate functions, responded,
“The opinion stated there is not one that I accord with. My view is that this matter has been dealt with appropriately, following the appropriate guidance and conscious of the potential for legal challenge throughout.
“That gives me a clear conscience to be able to proceed with decision-making this evening.”
Chiverton: As many as 300 staff could be made redundant
Mark Chiverton, secretary of Unison’s Isle of Wight branch, said aspects of the report are “flawed” because of “inaccuracies”.
He said,
“The fact that there is a sense this isn’t a genuine all-Island review and that academies haven’t been properly taken into account.
“The massive impact and the loss of skill in terms of the number of staff that could be made redundant, as many as 300.
“The massive disruption in terms of pupils and the many practical issues still to be resolved, the particular impact on children with SEND and the poverty factors that haven’t been properly debated, why on earth can you not consider a pause in this process to enable more discussion on those issues?”
Bacon: Delay would add £5m to schools’ budgets
Councillor Bacon replied,
“We have done all we can within the legal framework with academies being mentioned again – that is evidenced in the papers – the Department of Education has also attempted to act and has met the same brick wall.
“We have followed the statutory guidance that applies throughout.
“Overall this process falls within our draft education strategy which hopefully will crystallize next year with the need to improve educational standards on the Island because we are the worst in the country.
“Part of the reason for that problem with our standards is due to our surplus places, the way that too little funding is spread amongst too many schools.
“The delay that is suggested would add to the deficit looking to be carried by schools by roughly £5 million.”
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
