After listening to the views of Island residents around proposals for educational reform, Isle of Wight Council have tonight released a report which will go to the Cabinet and Full Council meetings of 20 and 21 November respectively, outlining more options for school organisation. The four options include the current model for 14-19 provision and 9-14 middle schools plus alternative models involving primary and secondary level education and a clear recommendation that no change is not an option.
Council Leader David Pugh and cabinet member for Children and Young People Councillor Alan Wells asked officers in September to explore all feasible options for improving educational standards after listening to views from the Island’s public.
Each option put forward in the report has been given an initial assessment against key issues including future sustainability, consistency at Key Stage 3, level of disruption, impact on staff numbers, local community provision, transition points and surplus places among other criteria.
The four options that members will be considering are:-
* Option 1 – All post-14 learning centres will be run under a single leadership and governance. Year 9 will be retained in middle schools. Two points of transition.
* Option 2 – Ages 4 – 11 schools will be established with a minimum of two classes per year group. A mix of 11 – 16 and 11 – 19 secondary schools will be established. One point of transition.
* Option 3 – Ages 4 – 11 schools will be established with a mixture of one and two classes per year group. A mix of 11 – 16 and 11 – 19 secondary schools will be established. One point of transition.
* Option 4 – Ages 4 – 11 schools and Lower Secondary 11 – 14 schools will be established. Upper Secondary 14 – 19 schools will be established and run under a single leadership & governance. Two points of transition.
The decision that members will be required to make, will decide which options are taken forward to the next round of public consultation in January. Officers will then need to develop those options and prepare detailed consultation documents for Cabinet approval. These will include an area by area, school by school picture of how the schools organisation will look under each model. Following consultation, a final decision on educational reform will then be taken in March 2008.
Council Leader, David Pugh said, “We have a duty to Island youngsters to consider all the viable options for education and to give them the best possible start in life. The developments around school organisation on the Island are crucial, not just for the children and young people who will be at the heart of the education system but for all Islanders. Whatever we put in place now will have a direct bearing on the economic wealth and sustainability of the Island in the future, whether through the development of the skills base of young people on the Island, the physical development of school buildings and other infrastructure or the ability to attract future funding and investment. We know that there will not be one solution that will please everyone but we want everyone to be able to fully understand why we need to change, the full range of options that are before us and to have a chance to have a final input into this process before we make what will undoubtedly be a very complex and difficult decision.”
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Cllr Alan Wells said: “Education on the Isle of Wight is a subject many parents are rightly very passionate about. We have listened and continue to listen to what the public is saying and also to the advice of education officers who have a close understanding of the changes and developments taking place nationally and the expectations of central government.
We want the very best education for our children and young people and stand by our commitment that no change is not an option, but we feel that this is a critical time to reassess all of the viable options. We know the public want to understand exactly what these options will mean for children’s education and we are determined at this next stage to provide the level of detail needed for people to really understand the different models going forward. When we go out to public consultation in January, we will promise a fair, balanced and even-handed process. We will be sticking to the timetable we have outlined which will see a final decision made in March 2008. There will be no delays.”
Director of Children’s Services Steve Beynon said “When the consultation begins in January, we will publish full details of each option selected by council members so the public can see exactly what will happen under whichever model is chosen. This will include which schools may be shut, amalgamated or federated. Everyone will have a chance to make their views known and information will be widely available at this time”.
