Last night the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel met at County Hall for their bi-monthly meeting.
As well as discussions about the Schools Reorganisation, the Annual Review of Achievement was presented to the Panel.
We spoke with Cllr Welsford (Ventnor East) today – who sits on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel – and he told us of his concern regarding the discrepancy between the Island’s Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 results.
He told us that, on a national level, the Isle of Wight is in the top 10% for KS1 results but also in the bottom 10% for KS2 and that the Island is at the bottom of the tables for GCSE results.
Given the report states that “three-quarters of maintained schools (primary, middle and high) inspected were judged as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding'”, we wonder how it is that KS2-KS4 results are falling so far behind the national average.
Steve Beynon: Frank and honest
Last night Steve Beynon ventured that one factor for the huge gap between KS1 and KS4 results could be that middle schools are more secondary focused and therefore do not add so much at the primary KS2.
Cllr Welsford said that he was enormously encouraged that at last, both sides of the two-tier versus three-tier debate could engage in a frank and honest debate about the issues which needed to be faced, regardless of the reorganization.
He went on to tell us that Steve Beynon was at pains to point out that he did not blame middle school heads or teachers for this situation and accepted that the local authority had until 2007, failed to adequately manage the problem which was now being addressed.
Improvements are being seen
Despite the low KS2+ results mentioned in the report, it does also state that some improvements are starting to be seen in the schools.
Let’s hope that the proposed changes can address the current failings of the education system and ensure that our children receive the education they deserve.
Who is on the panel?
Members of the Panel include Cllr George William Cameron (Chairman), Cllr John Frederick Howe, Cllr Roger Mazillius, Cllr Chris Welsford, Cllr William Wyatt-Millington as well as co-opted members, Mr David Miller and Mrs Sara Sheath (Parent Governor Representatives) and Mr Tony Blackshaw and Mrs Ursula Topp (Diocesan Representatives).
It is interesting to note that despite the key role that the Diocesan authorities are playing in the reorganisation, they have failed to attend any Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel meetings since the decision was made. Cllr Welsford told us that he asked last night why this was and members expressed their desire to see them attend in future.
Report available online
If you have some time on your hands you can read the document yourself on the IWC Website (PDF).
