Director of Children’s Services Steve Beynon said “The document was produced in September 2007 and outlines the potential costs for improving, expanding and building schools in the middle and high sector under the original proposals announced early last year. It was developed as a result of the proposal to retain Year 9 in middle schools and was discontinued following the introduction of two further options late last year.
The figures quoted are only estimates and were designed to indicate to officers what potential funds could be identified to help the rebuilding programme at individual middle and high school sites. Government guidance is that any money raised from the sale of school sites should be re-invested in educational services.
We are proposing to build a new school in the west of Newport as the Nodehill site is unsuitable as both a junior high school under Option 1 and a secondary under Options 2 & 3. While the possible future use of the Nodehill Middle School site will not be decided until after formal consultation later this year, we should remember that whichever option is chosen, Newport will be getting a brand new school that will benefit the whole area.”
Isle of Wight Council Leader Cllr David Pugh said: “As we have said from the outset, this process is about one thing – raising the standard of education on the Island. It is absolutely not a money-making exercise. To suggest otherwise is unhelpful and serves only to detract from the real issues at stake.”
