Yesterday we were invited along to have a chat with the successful bidders in the schools reorganisation.
Follow the meeting we took the opportunity to talk to Keith Simmonds, who has responsibility for the schools reorganisation at the Isle of Wight council.
Here are a selection of the questions that we ran through:-
- How they will the successful bidders running different schools collaborate?
- With the reorganisation, how will the IWC will change its role?
- IW College is creating its own sixth form. How will this impact on the new bidders?
- In the past, parents and children have complained that there appeared to be a disconnect and sometimes an overlap between what was learned in some primary schools and then taught at the next school. Will this be addressed?
- Is it right that Academies have the benefit of more money than the other secondary schools on the Island? How can this be balanced out?
- Christ the King school wasn’t at the meeting as they’ve were removed from the process. How will things work between them and other schools?
- How do other schools compete / collaborate?
- Who is funding the new buildings at Christ the King? How much is the IWC putting in?
- Government funding under their Building Schools for the Future was the original hope for funding the building of new buildings. Will this happen, or will schools be refurbished, now money has become tighter?
- Will the Sandown sports facilities stay open for the public?
- How does the IWC ensure that parents don’t start jumping around schools in anticipation of the schools being reorganised?
- You must be relieved at the recent vote. How are you feeling about the reorganisation personally?
Have a listen to the answers for yourself … [audio:http://otw-audio.s3.amazonaws.com/keith-simmons-post-schools-reorg-decision.mp3]
Thanks to VB readers who sent questions in, in particular Wendy Varley and Adam Collings.
