The Isle of Wight has been named as one of “55 cold spots” around the country where school outcomes are the weakest and is to be targeted as part of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper, due for publication tomorrow (Wednesday).
Plans are to target investment, support and action that can “help children from all backgrounds and areas to succeed at the very highest levels”.
More investment
A Government release states that education will be at the heart of the major new reforms “set to give every child and adult the skills they need to fulfil their potential, no matter where they live”, which much more investment provided over the next ten years.
As part of the White Paper plans, the Department for Education will offer retention payments to help schools keep the best teachers in the highest priority subjects.
Some schools could be moved into strong multi-academy trusts
The Department for Education go on to say that schools in the highlighted areas that have been judged less than Good in successive Ofsted inspections could be moved into strong multi-academy trusts, to attract more support and the best teachers.
Attainment on leaving primary school
The Department for Education go on to say,
“The paper will set a new national mission to ensure that 90 per cent of children leaving primary school in England are reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths by 2030. In 2019, just 65 per cent of pupils met all three standards, with the proportion substantially varying across the country.”
SEND respite care and internship opportunities
The Department for Education says that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families and caregivers will be better supported with respite care and internship opportunities.
Councils will be funded for the next three years to set up extra respite placements, helping to provide positive opportunities for disabled children and young people and to give family carers a break so they can look after vulnerable children better in the long-term.
SEND programmes
This is in addition to more than £45 million of continued targeted support for families and parents of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These programmes will:
- Target support to improve monitoring, support and intervention for local authorities and local health and care partners’ delivery of statutory SEND services, with a focus on underperforming areas and sharing best practice;
- Improve participation and access for parents and young people for high quality advice and support; and
- Directly support schools and colleges to effectively work with pupils with SEND, for example through training on specific needs like autism.
Seely: Determined to see that we are ‘levelled up’ and not ‘left behind’
Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, said,
“I’m delighted the Isle of Wight has been identified as an Education Investment Area. This is good news for our young people and important for the Island.
“The Island has historically suffered from a lack of investment. I’ve been making sure that is changing by continually lobbying ministers and highlighting the needs of the Island. Whilst we are technically part of the prosperous South East, our need, frankly, is greater. A critical part of our future success story will be rising educational achievement.
“For too much of the last fifty years the Island has been left behind. I am determined to see that we are ‘levelled up’ and not ‘left behind’.
“This is more evidence that the Government and I are delivering for the Island.”
Quigley: Most deprived secondary schools 14 per cent worse off in real terms
Chair of Island Labour, Richard Quigley, told News OnTheWight,
“Despite his own expensive education, Bob yet again misunderstands the issue. Only Bob would celebrate the failure of the education system under his government, that have been in power for 33 years of the 50 he mentions.
“This announcement amounts to an intervention from government in areas that have poor results at KS2 and KS4. I’d rather we didn’t qualify to be part of the scheme as I’d prefer our results were amongst the highest in the country.
“The Education minister clearly hasn’t read the statistics on how far funding has fallen over the last ten years, with average schools 9 per cent worse off and the most deprived secondary schools 14 per cent worse off in real terms compared to 2009 levels.
“To just ‘level up’ the increase in funding per pupil needs to be £444 each. I also remind Bob that the current minister for levelling up, Michael Gove, has been in Cabinet for ten years and is the architect of many of the issues in the education system.
“Since the botched schools reorganisation by the Island Conservative administration, Island children have been left behind.
“I am currently working with Hampshire and IW children’s services to improve outcomes for our children, despite the efforts of our MP.”
Stuart: An ideologically driven reshuffle of education
Nick Stuart, spokesperson for Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, told News OnTheWight,
“Government plans for Island education offer disruption and damage for Island children and existing schools. Rather than using existing expertise or an evidence-based approach they want an ideologically driven reshuffle of education on the Island. Claiming that a bit of extra money for a new 6th form and more forced mergers will help.
“A new specialist sixth form damages the opportunities for pupils in outlaying areas who lack resources and support while focusing limited teaching resources on one location. Hollowing out the existing 6th forms with a focus on the top few percent ignoring the needs of the majority of the people.
“Michael Gove as former Education Secretary rolled the education back towards the 1950s and these proposals will entrench that foolishness. The IoW MP welcomes these crumbs while failing to recognise the real Island needs or asking professionals their views.
“On the Island we saw a recent Conservative administration’s incompetent destruction of middle schools leaving a lasting scar of lost teachers and damaging education for a generation of children. While the destruction of Sandown 6th form driven by a failing Academy showcases why Academy chains and closing local provision fails the Island.
“On the Island we need distributed 6th form learning to support all 16 to 18 year olds. Including equal funding for all levels of ability recognising the differing needs of pupils including academic excellence and technical education. We need the restoration of previous cuts and an MP who will fight for the Island not welcome poison crumbs from a sinking Government.
“So rather than tell us what we need how about asking the public and professionals locally?”
You can read more about the plans on the Government Website.
Article edit
6.23pm 2nd Feb 2022 – Comment by Bob Seely added
8.15am 3rd Feb 2022 – Comment by Richard Quigley added
8am 4th Feb 2022 – Comment by Nick Stuart added
