A senior Isle of Wight education union representative has met with East Wight MP, Joe Robertson, to press for a level playing field in how school closures are handled, amid ongoing concerns about funding and support for pupils with special educational needs.
Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), met with Mr Robertson on Friday (13th June) following the sending of a joint letter from the NEU, GMB and UNISON.
The unions are calling for more equitable treatment between local authority (LA) and non-LA schools when closures are being considered.
Peter said:
“This meeting occurred after three education unions – GMB, NEU and UNISON – wrote to both Island MPs on 2nd April stressing the need for a fairer process between LA and non-LA schools when closing schools.
“After the NEU and UNISON met the West Wight MP on 28th May, the East Wight MP was next in line.
“Friday 13 conspired to allow the availability of only myself, and unions agreed it should go ahead.”
The union raised the possibility of an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, now being considered in the House of Lords. Mr Robertson indicated he would speak with Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West, to explore potential collaboration.
Other key issues discussed included the ongoing impact of real-terms funding cuts, particularly on smaller and coastal schools, as well as concerns over future school closures. Mr Shreeve highlighted recent data showing that nearly 24% of pupils on the Isle of Wight are now designated as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
He reiterated the urgent need for the long-promised Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) school in Carisbrooke to be built, saying:
“There is real need for substantial well-resourced provision, especially the planned building of the SEMH school in Carisbrooke. The money was promised. Let’s build it.”
The original union letter questioned the Department for Education’s (DfE) current guidance on school closures, arguing that it lacks enforceability and allows academy trusts to bypass fair consultation. The unions are seeking statutory changes to ensure all schools, regardless of governance model, are treated equally in closure decisions.
Mr Shreeve concluded:
“After having listened to both Island MPs, union fingers are now crossed that by working together, some progress is possible.”
If savings must be made then schools must close.
Our tax payers money cannot be squandered on
unnesseccary buildings.
Yeah, shut down schools! Prat