Isle of Wight Council has organised a number of public information evenings as it enters the latest round of consultation on proposals to improve educational standards on the Island. The consultation process – which was approved by Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet last night (8 January) – begins on 14 January and lasts until 22 February.
Before the consultation starts though, the council is warning Islanders whichever proposal is chosen in March, there will be implications for small primary schools. In the future, all primary schools will need to have a minimum of one class size per year group.
It can cost up to an extra £2m a year to provide financial protection and sustain very small primary schools. This money could be used for investment in other educational services which are currently under funded. The council is also in danger of missing out on a share of a pot of government money, through the Primary Capital Programme, if the high number of unfilled places in primary schools on the Island are not addressed.
Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet member for Children & Young People, Cllr Alan Wells said “The council will need to make some difficult decisions if it is to improve educational standards on the Island. There is no easy option and whichever one of the three proposals is brought in following the decision in March, there will be implications for some schools, especially at primary level. The Island deserves an education system it can be proud of that will meet the needs of 21st century learning. For all the claims and counter-claims since we announced the plans, at the end of the day our exam results are near the bottom in the country and that, quite simply, is not good enough”.
Ten public information meetings will be held across the Island, beginning at Osborne Middle School on Thursday 24 January. The final meeting will be held at Cowes High School on Wednesday 13 February. Each meeting is due to start at 1900.
Ahead of the first meeting, consultation booklets which include a short questionnaire will be sent to parents across the Island through the post. They will also be available at council help centres and libraries. Included in the booklet is how and whether each existing school site will be used under each option. This information can also be found from 14 January via a dedicated section on the council’s website. The site will be accessible after 1800.
Leader of Isle of Wight Council, Cllr David Pugh said “We are passionate about improving educational standards here because for too long, our performance levels have been way below what the Island deserves. I invite everyone to return the questionnaire in the consultation booklet, or to complete it online via the council’s website. While some people will want the system to remain as it is, no change is not an option, and one of our proposals will be implemented following a decision by councillors in March”.
The three options are:-
Option 1 – Establishing a primary (4 to 9), junior high (9 to 14) and learning centres (14 to 19)
Option 2 – Establishing a primary (4 to 11) /secondary (11 to 16 / 11 to 19) set-up with a minimum of 2 classes per year group
Option 3 – Establishing a primary (4 to 11) /secondary (11 to 16 / 11 to 19) set-up with a minimum of 1 class per year group
A full list of the public meetings is below. All meetings are due to start at 1900 and could be subject to change. In the event of a venue being changed, notices will be advertised in the local media and on council’s website.
Thursday 24 January — Osborne Middle School
Monday 28 January — Ventnor Middle School
Tuesday 29 January — Forelands Middle School
Thursday 31 January — Medina High School
Monday 4 February — Sandown High School
Tuesday 5 February — Swanmore Middle School
Wednesday 6 February — Carisbrooke High School
Monday 11 February — Ryde High School
Tuesday 12 February — West Wight Middle School
Wednesday 13 February — Cowes High School
Consultation will end on the 22 February and the analysis will be carried out by independent research company QA. The results will be published on the council’s website in early March. Councillors will decide which of the options will be implemented on 19 March.
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