Several groups opposed to the proposed schools reforms have created an online petition calling for the council to rethunk their strategy.
Any members of the public who are against the proposals to close at least 23 schools are invited to add their names to the petition.
The description of the petition is as follows:
I, the undersigned, oppose all three options that the Isle of Wight Council has proposed to reform education on the Isle of Wight.
The leading Conservative party have put forward three options to change the existing education system – all 3 see AT LEAST 28 schools closing – 23 of which are successful primary schools which are in the TOP 10% of the country.
This review should offer an exciting vision for the future, such as maintaining quality provision, phasing in change, reducing class sizes and taking into account the wider role that primary schools play in our communities. Instead it offers the wholesale slaughter of our successful primary sector whilst paying scant regard to the need for all our schools to be supported and nurtured.
There are plenty of alternatives to the three proposals which could be done to improve standards. Councillors need to listen to teaching staff and people who work in schools – most are there because they truly want the best for the young people of the Island and think they deserve a quality education!
