At last night’s Cabinet meeting, Cllr Richard Priest mentioned that a letter had been received from Michael Gove MP, the Secretary of State for Education.
The letter addressed to the Isle of Wight MP, Andrew Turner, outlines the Secretary of State’s concern at the ‘significant deficiencies’ within educational standards on the Island.
“Current situation is not acceptable”
Mr Gove goes on to say that “the current situation is not acceptable” and that “rapid and sustainable improvement in eduction standards and performance is needed”.
Out of the six secondary schools on the Island, three are in ‘Special Measures’, two ‘Require Improvement’ and one is considered ‘Good’.
Only 11% of Island teenagers attend a ‘good school’
Readers will remember back in September when John Coughlan, director of Children’s Services, told the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel that only 11% of the Island’s secondary age children attend a good school.
The letter
Dear Andrew
I was pleased to hear about the new joint working arrangement between Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight council members and officers. When my colleague, the Rt Hon David Laws MP, met Cllr Priest, Cllr Keith Mans, and Hampshire local authority officers in July, he gave his strong support to the partnership. That commitment remains.
I am in no doubt, however, about the scale of the challenge that exists to improve education standards across the island. Clearly there are significant deficiencies which need to be addressed. This may involve Cllr Whitehouse and Cllr Priest making hard decisions. My expectation is that they will take whatever action is required in the best interests of all pupils on the island.
Based on evidence including Ofsted’s recent judgement, and the growing number of schools that are being placed in a category of concern, it is clear that the current situation is not acceptable. Rapid and sustainable improvement in eduction standards and performance is needed.
Cowes Enterprise College is funded on an equal basis with the island’s other schools. There should be no implication for the other schools’ budgets. I welcome the Council’s commitment to fund the necessary capital costs to ensure that the building is fit for purpose.
Thank you for writing to me on this important matter. I encourage Cllr Whitehouse and Cllr Priest to continue their efforts and I look forward to seeing improvements in the quality of schooling in the near future. I am happy for you to share this letter with them both.
Michael Gove
Speaking today, Cllr Chris Whitehouse (Newport West) who speaks on education for the Conservative Group of Isle of Wight councillors says:
“I am greatly encouraged and deeply flattered that the Secretary of State should be personally monitoring the work that Cllr Richard Priest and I are undertaking on the island to drive up education standards for all our children. It is a real boost to know that from the highest level of government our commitment to sort out the problems that have arisen on the Island is noted.”
Image: Policy Exchange under CC BY 2.0
