Hundreds of Isle of Wight parents and children shared their frustration and concerns regarding the potential primary school closures at Saturday’s school closure protest rally.
What a surprise! Santa turned up on a motorbike, keen to support. After speaking to the crowd, he talked with individuals. When children visited his grotto in December, 37 children shared their worries about school closures.
“Don’t they like us?”
Young children stepped up to the microphone to speak. They talked about losing their friends, uncertainty about the future and how they would cope.
One child asked,
“Why are they doing this? Don’t they like us?”
We heard the passion of one Year 6 youngster from Oakfield primary. Theo gave an emotional angry speech about his school’s potential transformation into a special needs centre, when there were already lots of cared for SEND children in school.
Unions speak out
Mark Chiverton, Unison Secretary spoke about “flawed proposals” and strongly suggested that the LA takes “note of the many constructive alternatives”. He said, the whole community feels ignored.
Duncan Morrison, NEU Branch Secretary called it a “back of a fag packet consultation”. He explained the flawed criteria had not been evenly applied across all schools. He said the report noted, if the proposed schools were kept open, primary teachers would have to teach more subjects. A nonsense, as they already do.
Dickinson: “Closures a political decision”
NASUWT, Junior Vice President Mark Dickinson said,
“Children need primary schools where they live”. He reminded everyone, that closures are a political decision, saying if politicians really wanted to, money could be found “to keep these schools open”
Peter Shreeve, NEU Assistant District Secretary encouraged the crowd to join in the song,
“Here we go round the Isle of Wight” touching on closure concerns.
Word of the year: Kindness
He also highlighted the annual survey to find the 2024 children’s word of year. The winner being “kindness”.
Why “kindness”? One child said,
” Because it’s important to be kind as you don’t know who’s suffering.”
Stop the cuts
He finished by reminding everyone that all primary pupils have known education cuts in almost every year of their young lives.
“It’s time for change!”
News shared by Peter on behalf of NEU Isle of Wight. Ed
