During the Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday evening (read our live coverage),
According to the budget proposals £70,000 of savings will be made in School Improvement Budget for 2016/17.
Cllr Gauntlett sought assurances the reduction would not impact on delivery of improvement.
Improved performance of IW schools
Cllr Jonathan Bacon was able to assure the committee on this point and clarified it did not refer to building work, but referred to standards in the classroom.
“The School Improvement Budget for 2015/16 was £397,000. The proposed budget for 2016/17 is £327,000.
“We’re confident that we can reduce the School Improvement Budget by £70,000 because of the improved performance of Isle of Wight schools.
“When partnership with Hampshire began (in 2013) there were 11 schools judged inadequate by Ofsted. To address that inadequacy a large amount of investment had to be made.
There is now only one school judged inadequate by Ofsted so the overall budget can be reduced.”
That looks like something worth celebrating. Well done to all involved.
