Excluding a few outstanding examples in the primary sector, according to a recent review by Hampshire Children's Services there's a pretty bleak picture for Isle of Wight Education.
Following the Inadequate Ofsted report on the council's safeguarding of children, a recruitment campaign was launched to attract experienced social workers to the Island.
The Ofsted report released following a five day inspection of the Isle of Wight council at the beginning of June found poor corporate and strategic leadership as well as an un-coordinated approach to school improvement.
Overall the inspection was seen as positive, however, teaching is not yet consistently good enough to ensure that students are making enough progress to catch up the ground lost during their earlier years at the college
It was far from clear in past council press releases that the move to partner with another local authority on Children Services was a direction by the Secretary of State, not a choice they'd made. Happily Hampshire seems highly-rated.
Despite operating in 'challenging circumstances', the organisation that trains teachers on the Island has been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted. Well done to all involved.
Island education has been let to slip in to such a poor position that 3/4 of children joining a secondary school on the Isle of Wight, will do so in a school that's been judged as 'Inadequate'.
New councillor says the council assistance to Island schools is 'vitally important', noting 'there are clearly strengths to build on as well as weaknesses to address'.