School leaders are challenging the Isle of Wight’s third education boss in three months to work with them, when it comes to making decisions about primary schools.
The Isle of Wight council has now agreed to set up a group to look how best to deal with surplus school places
After a new leader and a cabinet reshuffle, Councillor Jonathan Bacon has taken over as lead member for education.
Pledge to work with heads and leaders
At a cabinet meeting on Thursday night, school governors representative, Simon Richards, asked him to commit to working with heads and leaders, including looking at potentially closing some schools.
Councillor Bacon said he would be more than happy to do so, adding discussions would start as soon as practically possible, adding they would feature a range of views from across the education system.
Richards: Cabinet members dragging their heels
Mr Richards had previously accused leading cabinet members of dragging their heels on an issue which was first raised more than a year ago.
The council’s inaction, he said, meant children’s education was suffering.
Communication misstep
Earlier in the year, County Hall announced it was considering launching a consultation on the closure of three Island primary schools.
Following public outcry, the plans were subsequently reversed but, said parents and heads, the damage had been done and children were already being moved to other primaries.
IWC: Can’t do both at same time
Last month, council officers warned they would not be able to solve the issue of surplus primary school places while at the same time building a new children’s services department.
A strategic partnership between the Isle of Wight council and Hampshire County Council — which has included the responsibility of delivery education services — ends on 31st January.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
