Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has written to the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP, over his concerns about Isle of Wight councillors’ handling of school place planning, as well as issuing a damning statement against the Alliance administration.
Bob has said the lack of decision-making is damaging schools across the Island, stating that teachers, parents and pupils need clear decisions and good leadership – but we have had neither.
The state of school place planning was discussed when the Secretary of State visited the Island last week. Mr Seely told her that he is worried about education locally, adding that teachers and parents are also concerned.
Speaking about the situation, Bob has this week said:
“I have written to Government ministers, and I am talking with senior education officials this week to see what can be done and what powers they have to make sure Councillors from the anti-Conservative Alliance coalition fulfil their legal obligations.
“In my opinion, councillors are not fulfilling their statutory duties to carry out school place planning and promote high standards of education. Failure to address school place planning this autumn (2023) has delayed place planning by an additional year. This will result in worse education, more debt, good teachers leaving, parents being frustrated by the lack of clarity and children being failed.
“I have bitten my tongue on many occasions in order to try to work with the Alliance Administration, despite my concerns over their policies. I am not willing to be silent while they damage children’s education. It is the most important and precious thing that we have. Teachers know that, parents know that.”
In his letter, the MP has stated:
“In my opinion, councillors are not fulfilling their statutory duties to carry out school place planning and promote high standards of education. Failure to address school place planning this autumn (2023) has delayed place planning by an additional year. This will result in worse education, more debt, good teachers leaving, parents being frustrated by the lack of clarity and children being failed.”
Schools receive funding based on their pupil numbers and schools with too few pupils risk becoming unviable and failing to provide a good education. Island headteachers have made it clear that at least 3 primary schools should close.
If there was no vacant reception places this year, primary schools on the Island would have over £850,000 more in funding.
Back in the Summer Hampshire County Council withdrew from their long-term partnership with the Isle of Wight Council. This has left the Council urgently needing to restructure children’s services.
Bob adds:
“Delaying important decisions will only create more uncertainty for teachers and parents.”
“Island children need a good education. I urge you to consider the necessary decisions to ensure that standards of education are maintained and improved, and whether action from you is now needed.”
Bob Seely also raised other issues, including questioning the break in the relationship with Hampshire education specialists who have been supporting the Island, home schooling and reading standards.
This muppet was told back in 2017 by AET that school place numbers were an issue. He chose and so did the tory council to ignore the professionals and instead lambasted them for wanting to shut Sandown Bay. Now he’s saying exactly the opposite.
Pathetic. Seely starting his pre-election ‘I better do something’ campaign. The reality is that after more than a decade of Tory governance, everything is a mess.
What about what the damage the government did to children’s education during the pandemic and lockdowns?
While some of them were partying or driving to Barnard Castle for an eye test.
These local buffoons on the council are incompetent idiots. Their only concern is keeping in “power” or taking “power”. Take all control from the council and put it in the hands of central government. Stop all the waste and redundancy, and cut our bills.
“Take all control from the council and put it in the hands of central government”
You know who could have done this very thing, the government! Yes, the 12+ years of tory government has failed to fix anything. They have the power to fix it including what you suggest. So maybe also blame the Tories for not dealing with bad councils.
Some class A gaslighting there bob, blame everyone else. You are the government, have been for a very long time, if the current system is broken then you are to blame.
Yep. 90% of the problems with Island education have been caused by the Tories. From Boy Blunder Pugh’s misguided and mismanaged transition to two tier, and the cuts, cuts, and more cuts imposed by Sausage Boy’s party over the last 13 years.
Gaslighting, yes, but hardly class A. Only the truly stupid will fall for it.
Mind you, that could be an issue given the senility of many of Bob’s senescent supporters.
Can’t think of a single thing on the Isle of Wight the Tories haven’t damaged this past decade or so tbh.
Quite the record of managed decline and shifting tax down onto those of us already absolutely loaded with it.
Still, at least that nice Tory Lord Michelle Mone has still got that private jet and superyacht we all bought her for some unusable PPE, eh?
But what is the alternative options, hear all the comments about bad government so what is to be done.This is all about the children — our future.
Nothing can be done until we dispose of a Government that put themselves before the country and it’s people.