The Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Robert Seely MBE, has accused Isle of Wight Alliance councillors of “disgracefully delaying decisions about school place planning until after the council elections next year”.
The council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Jonathan Bacon, has hit back at the criticism, saying that the MP has been “repeating the same mantra since last November, but is not paying attention to how the situation has been developing”, adding that the MP’s comments are “somewhat out of touch”.
Seely: Delaying decisions puts all schools under pressure
In a press release issued on Monday (22nd Jan 2024) Bob Seely claimed that the Alliance group are “refusing to listen to senior teachers”. He said,
“Delaying decisions on school closures puts all schools under pressure and wracks up school debt at a time when teachers need to be supported in driving up school standards.”
He said,
“That is an appalling record and shows how weak leadership and muddled thinking hurts education and fails teachers, parents and above all, children.”
Bacon: Way forward agreed with Headteachers Executive
However, speaking to News OnTheWight, Councillor Bacon explained that the statement issued on 23rd November last year, making clear the agreed way forward in terms of timescale, was agreed with the Headteachers Executive.
He added that any statutory processes to close a school takes around one year to complete.
Bacon: We were advised to wait until IWC was fully in control of Island education
Councillor Bacon explained,
“Timing is important so that announcements and formal consultations do not take place during or on the cusp of holiday periods.
“The Cabinet were advised in no uncertain terms last year that once Hampshire had made the unilateral decision to end the Partnership it would not be possible to run a formal place planning process alongside the process of termination and we were advised to wait until IWC was fully in control of Island Education.”
An open and transparent process
Councillor Bacon told News OnTheWight that the council also wanted to use the time gained to carry out an open and transparent process of public information and debate, to inform people of the reasons for the process.
This will be happening in March and April 2024.
Part of a wider drive to improve education
The new Director of Children’s Services, Ashley Whittaker, will be joining the council at the beginning of February.
The place planning process will become part of a wider drive to improve the quality of education on the Isle of Wight.
Bacon: I don’t think the MP has taken this on board
Councillor Bacon added,
“This is something that has needed to be addressed for a long time and we now have the perfect opportunity to do this.
“Part of this will be about creating a sustainable school estate, but there are other issues to look at which feed into the process and will affect the choices to be made.
“I don’t think the MP has taken this on board.”
Bacon: Unfortunately he [Bob] has chosen to repeat his comments
Councillor Bacon also explained that he has offered to meet with the MP to update and brief him, communicating directly with him by email,
“In the hope of bringing him up to speed before more comments which do not reflect the true situation were made .
“The meeting is currently being arranged for early February, but unfortunately he has chosen to repeat his comments without waiting for the meeting.”
Seely: Decision reverses both officers’ recommendations
In his release, Bob Seely ended,
“The decision reverses both officers’ recommendations and the information submitted by headteachers and school governors.”
Bacon: There is no reverse
Councillor Bacon said,
“There is no reverse. There has been a necessary reset and an advance in thinking and purpose. All work done to date is part of the process, but there is much more to the situation if we are to use this to achieve the best for our schools and our education system.”
