Islanders are being encouraged to join the conversation on school place planning on the Isle of Wight.
In the Island’s first mainstream school place planning strategy published last month, the Isle of Wight council highlighted the huge challenge facing schools amid falling birth rates and declining pupil numbers.
High number of surplus places
The draft strategy sets out why the authority must tackle the high number of surplus places within schools to ensure they are adequately funded and children and young people receive the world-class education they deserve.
The report explains how school places will be managed to ensure parents and carers of all children living on the Island can secure a good school place within a reasonable distance of home.
It identifies the total number of empty school places in each area of the Island and proposes a reduction, taking into account such factors as new housing developments, while maintaining some surplus to accommodate potential future growth and parental choice.
Expand provision of high-quality SEND provision
At the same time, the strategy outlines the positive opportunity to expand the provision of high-quality education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The draft strategy was approved by Cabinet last month giving the green light for a detailed review to identify how the council propose to address surplus places and identify what this means for the future of schools.
Lots of Islanders have already taken this opportunity to have their say on the future of Island education but the council is keen to hear from as many people as possible, including town, parish and community councils.
Feedback should be emailed to [email protected]
Bacon: Important for residents to join the conversation
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for children’s services, explained,
“I can’t emphasise strongly enough how important it is for residents to join this Island-wide conversation which is going to help shape the future of education on the Isle of Wight.
“With a steep decline in births a clear school place planning strategy is required.
“This will see a reduction in the number of school places across the Island to respond to falling birth rate, but this will enable our remaining schools to be in the best possible position to improve outcomes for our children and young people by giving our school system and those within it the security that is desperately needed.”
More information is available on the council’s ‘Island education plans and policies’ web pages.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
