We’ve been hearing unconfirmed whispers that the reorganisation of the schools – removing the Middle School level and replacing it with a two-tier system – might not have the money available to it that was first pledged by the Isle of Wight council.
If this is the case – and we hasten to underline, it hasn’t been confirmed – we’re wondering how small/large the impact might be, or where it would impact.
At the end of November, the papers for the Cabinet meeting raised the issue of the School Reorganisation being removed from the council’s priority list. Due to the lengthy discussions of budget cuts, the meeting finished before the item was considered.
David Pugh’s response
We’ve written to the Cabinet member in charge of the school reorganisation – council leader, David Pugh – but at the time of running this story, we haven’t heard back from him.
UPDATE: 16:56 This just received from David Pugh – Ed
School reorganisation remains a corporate priority until such time as the change is fully implemented.
The project will be fully delivered within the capital resources we have available to us.
It should be noted that schools revenue budgets (funded from the Dedicated Schools Grant) will face a number of pressures next year, as they will across the country. Operating within a wholly two-tier structure from next September will mean that these funds are spent as effectively as possible. The local authority will support schools – including the new providers – in this process.
