Isle of Wight councillors and council officers received a grilling over possible school closures yesterday evening (Tuesday) at Newport’s County Hall.
Concerned members of the public asked a series of searching questions of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee, from the council chamber’s gallery on the potential closure of primary schools in Cowes, Arreton, Oakfield, Brading, Wroxall and Godshill.
Parents, a headteacher and a Unison trade union secretary enquired about where children will be accomodated after school closures, consultation with school staff, trade unions and parents and provision for children with physical impairments.
They also raised concerns regarding faith education, longer commuting distances, parental choice, financial difficulties and delays to the possible closures process.
King: What provisions are being put in place for children with physical impairments
Sahara King, mother of a child in Arreton, said,
“I’d like to ask what provisions are being put in place for children with physical impairments – my son has quite serious vision issues – he will need a safe environment that has no stairs, that has wider hallways, that has markings and such.
“But also one that is not crowded and one that he will have a chance to learn to map. If not, he will have to be deschooled and continue his education at home.
“I’m not quite sure in the proposal that I’ve seen physical disabilities and impairments for children are being taken into consideration.”
Carter: We’ll be working with parents to make sure their individual needs are met
Naomi Carter, the council’s service director for education, inclusion and access, responded,
“If this is voted on and we go through the consultation process, then for every child in the affected schools we’ll be working with parents to make sure their individual needs are met and we’ll be working with the schools to ensure we can meet those needs effectively.”
Chiverton: There is a deep anxiety amongst all types of staff in all the schools
Mark Chiverton, the Unison Isle of Wight local government branch secretary, said,
“We’ve just come from a meeting with senior management and the trade unions have been happy in terms of the dialogue that’s been established so far, but I just wanted to highlight the fact there is a deep anxiety amongst all types of staff in all the schools, not just the schools named, but also amongst those schools that potentially might be affected in other ways such as special schools.
“And I’m aware of the deep concern amongst the parental community as well. I just wanted to ask what steps the scrutiny committee will be taking to ensure that there is the maximum possible consultation with staff and their trade union and professional association representatives – but also with parents and community groups attached to each of the schools.”
Mosdell: The right place for it to sit will be in children’s services scrutiny committee
Councillor Clare Mosdell (Con), chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee, answered,
“The reason that we’re looking at this today at corporate scrutiny is because it’s on the cabinet agenda.
“The right place for it to sit will be in children’s services scrutiny committee. I know that they’re going to have a meeting on 17th October 2024 where there will be a meeting – the whole meeting will be for this agenda item.”
You can watch the meeting again via the council’s YouTube page or by clicking on the play button below.
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
