The Isle of Wight MP’s opinion on school closures has been met with disagreement from the Isle of Wight Council, with the cabinet member for education and children’s services saying that Mr Seely’s words are ‘a political attack’. As previously reported by Island Echo, Bob Seely said the council’s Alliance Administration’s delay on closing unviable primary schools ‘puts all schools under pressure’ and ‘wracks up school debt at a time when teachers need to be supported in driving up school standards’. Mr Seely has accused the Alliance of refusing to listen to senior teachers and the council’s decision has ‘reversed officers’ recommendations’. Councillor Jonathan Bacon has now said that the MP has not been paying attention to how the situation has been developing. The council is currently setting up its own children’s services and educational department, as it leaves a decade-long partnership with Hampshire County Council. However, it has previously said it could not create its own services and sort out the empty school places issue at the same time. Councillor Bacon says the advice to the council was to wait until it had full control of education on the Island, putting all Island schools on an equal footing, before restarting the process. A step forward is expected by Easter, and if school closures are required, the formal process would be likely to start in the Summer term. Any agreed closures would take effect from Autumn 2025. Responding to Mr Seely’s recent comments, Councillor Bacon has said:
“It has been made crystal clear, in public statements and direct communications to him, there is no reverse but rather development of the situation.”
Councillor Bacon says he has offered to meet with Mr Seely to update and brief him and the pair are expected to catch up in the coming weeks. A new children’s services director, Ashley Whittaker, is due to start in February and Cllr Bacon says ‘positive discussions on how to improve the Island’s education system’ have already been had.
So the council is quite happy to pootle along wasting our money for another year and a half because they can’t make decisions. Millions needlessly wasted. There is no doubt that these schools have to close so just do it! Also seems that they don’t want to anything until after next year’s council elections.
You couldn’t make this crap up !! Useless MP & IWC .. swinging their handbags .. and still the left & right hand haven’t a clue .. Seely is electioneering, with the normal smoke and mirror tactics, and IWC are clueless .. this serious mess will still be unsolved long after these fools have gone .. Bacon always bails out .. when cornered ..
Please think off are young not the old
Is it me, or can most people do 2 things at once? Not the IWC evidently. Or is it more likely Cllr B is waiting for the new officer to start, so that there is a fall guy for the Alliance?
Council already have a fall guy, council tax payers.
I worked in Whitehall for most of my career during which it was an accepted principle that MPs did not criticise their local authorities of a different political hue. Sadly, like so many good practices and courtesies, this priciple has been trampled on by today’s Tory MPs. While criticising the Isle of Wight Council, Mr Seely conveniently forgets that it is the present Conservative government who have starved local authorities of money, forcing up Council Taxes and cuts to services. Those same Tory MPs then castigate their local councils for the tax burden and the lack of service provision. It is nothing short of dishonest and dishonourable.
The government didn’t ‘starve’ the IWC of headcount though did they? Fewer children equals less money. Dot em about in half empty schools and you waste money.
Sausage Bob and Porkies Bacon, having a chat, over breakfast no doubt, and don’t forget to pass the brown envelope under the table to shut Bob up.
The school system is stretched and teachers are expected to teach kids of all abilities in the classroom. I think it is about time a school for those who have EHCP’s should be allocated so it gives them a chance to flourish instead of them being continuously bow beaten by their peers. Also for those who are academically gifted, they should be filtered off so they have the opportunites to suceed without ridicule.
However, it has previously said it could not create its own services and sort out the empty school places issue at the same time.
Although they manage to ruin the floating bridge, impose tax rises, change prices on garden waste, increase parking charges and award theirselves meeting expenses all at the same time.
bacon says…
Councillor Bacon says the advice to the council was to wait until it had full control of education on the Island, putting all Island schools on an equal footing, before restarting the process.
..
in other words, dragging it out to suit their own agenda, which requires more meetings and more expenses claims.
Thats about the size of it. They can do meetings, but heaven forbid they have to DO anything.
Please could you show an up to date /recent photo of the Councillors in articles? I did not recognise Councillor Bacon when I went to a council meeting recently.
which meeting was that
the meeting to discuss ideas on how to make decisions at meetings
the meeting to discuss the minutes from the how to make decisions at meetings, meeting
the meeting to discuss the proposed agenda for the education meeting
the meeting to discuss which office to use and what table layout is appropriate
or simply the meeting to discuss the calendar of proposed meetings for the week