County Hall’s watchdog panel will tomorrow (Tuesday) scrutinise the Isle of Wight Council’s expected landmark decision to close five primary schools.
The Corporate Scrutiny Committee will pore over a paper due to be presented at Thursday’s cabinet meeting which covers both the case for the closures and a linked statutory consultation that finished at the beginning of last month.
Confidential documents
Eight attached documents contain consultation responses and are confidential under the Local Government Act 1972 – ‘information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual’.
At Thursday’s meeting, Alliance administration cabinet members will make final decisions on the closures of Arreton St Georges CE Primary School, Brading CE Primary School, Cowes Primary School, Oakfield CE Primary and Wroxall Primary School.
They will also decide whether to approve the creation of a 12-place primary resourced provision for children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) at The Bay CE School, another move which has been under consultation.
Ensuring suitable and sufficient school provision is available
Signed by education cabinet member Councillor Jonathan Bacon and director of children’s services Ashley Whittaker, the report says,
“In the cabinet report from last December, we highlighted several key issues and challenges faced by Island Schools due to a declining pupil population and the resulting impact of falling rolls.
“The council and school leaders have been collaborating closely to manage this situation, particularly as some schools face significant risks to their financial sustainability.
“Without financial stability, the resources needed to maintain a diverse and appropriately delivered curriculum are compromised, making it increasingly difficult for these schools to deliver high standards of education.
“This report is focused on ensuring suitable and sufficient school provision is available at the primary school phase to meet the needs of all children and is a key strand to our draft Education Strategy.
“Contrary to the declining birth rate, the Island has seen a significant growth in the need for additional special educational needs provision with 6.6 per cent of our school population (four to 19 year olds) requiring an education health care plan (EHCP).”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
