Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has spoken to the Department for Education about his continued concerns over what Alliance councillors are doing on the Island and the damage to primary school education, as well as education overall. The damning statement from Mr Seely comes at the same time that the Isle of Wight Council’s education lead, Councillor Jonathan Bacon, confirms that the local authority is pushing ahead with plans to cull the number of empty spaces by potentially closing a number of Island schools. A clear plan of action is expected to be outlined by Easter, with the legalities getting underway in the Summer. It is said that schools would then be closed for good by Autumn 2025, which realistically means that schools will seize to exist at the end of the academic year in July 2025. It’s understood that councillors – made up of Alliance members who control County Hall – have met with education officials this week to outline their plan of action. At this stage, Islanders are being kept in the dark as to which schools could face the chop. Bob Seely has outlined 4 key areas of concern to the Department for Education. These include the local authority’s refusal to take advice from teachersover surplus primary school places; the termination of the relationship with Hampshire County Council; the increasing number of pupils choosing home education and the local engagement with phonics funding and support. Mr Seely’s said:
“I intend to keep monitoring the situation until there is evidence that they are finally tackling the problem. Councillors need to focus on school place planning and we need to ensure that all schools have in place a phonics programme. I want reassurance that we are capable of running primary education on the Island ourselves. “The Department for Education has assured me they will be closely monitoring Councillors’ actions. I will make sure they do. “As ever I’m happy to support the Council and Councillors. But they need to be doing the right thing. “Councillors running the Isle of Wight Council must raise their game”.
Pop up Bob I bet IWC are shaking in there boots .. now that you have sent a strongly worded letter .. the island education system has been not fit for purpose for a long .. back to when Pugh and his disastrous cohorts touched it .. Jordan will fail, he always does .. so thanks Bob for nothing .. where have you been .. ??
Phil Jordan hets things done, unlike many. He doesn’t ‘fail’.
Mary Such as ?? That is of any benefit to islanders ?? Disastrous whitewash of the FB6 debacle .. that’s all he ever promotes himself for, told the Cons they would be part of his new cabinet .. but then reversed that promise .. that’s Cllr Jordan he has a reputation of being a blocker and not progressive .so sorry I do not agree with you.
He failed a breath test a few years back, what a joke this council and seely are.
“Raise their game!” They need to wake from their slumber.
As does “” Seldom seen”he appears to be in a continuous coma where his constituents are concerned!.
Should have major concerns for old farts on the roads and wasting the nhs time and the government money such a inconvenience
Literally everyone else complaining of what Whitehall is doing to the country.
Quite! An enormous mote in Seely’s eye.
Note that those planning the school closures own children’s schools are not under threat, Eh Ms Goldring?
Never fear we are all safe and so is everything in the cozy world of “Saviour Seely” What a chump. One would think he is desperate to win his seat back, oh yes he is desperate. Also sounds like he is passing the buck too.
Absolutely small potatoes against what the tories have done to decimate education in this country in the last 13 years. How dare he pop up again. The guy is a laughing stock. He can’t beg or buy an interview on the BBC following his newsnight debacle, so now pops up on channel 5. (Does anybody watch that?). He should have been sacked off following his journey across the Island to attend a barbecue in Seaview with a tory donor and his right wing ‘journalist’ girlfriend when claiming he only ate half a sausage. At that time, the rest of us couldn’t walk to the end of our garden paths to say hello to relatives or friends because we were following the rules. NEVER forget that when the next election comes around.
Using education as a political football. Its more bs from bs.
So that’s a – ‘I’m happy to support the Council as long as they do what I want’, then.
Er no. Don’t mouth off about them till they have completed their investigations and are ready to share their outcomes.
Typical Tory tactic. Screw up then blame someone else.
Lamentable state of IW education directly caused by Pugh’s (Tory) reorganisation and the Government’s (Tory) cuts over the last 13 years, but it’s the Council’s fault
Massive increase in immigration directly attributable to Bozo Johnson’s (Tory) Brexit, but it’s the actual immigrants to blame for trying to find a better life.
Highest tax burden the UK has ever seen, due to Tory mismanagement of the economy. But it’s disabled people who can’t work who are to blame.
Massive increase in homelessness due to Tory cuts, but it’s people selling tents to them who are to blame for people living on the streets (a “life choice”, apparently).
Us islanders are having comcerns about you as an mp in general!
Our very favourite “kangaroo court” denier pops up a couple of times this week. Darned it, if only he’d been the MP before this week then he could have sorted education, the ferries and that agreement some bloke made with Johnson, a former Prime Minister, about an Island Deal in no time.
Spring election, then?
Alas all the councillors on the island ,are only interested in posing ,pouting …. Smirking….
Blaming everything on the past (lot’s of them are from the past !)
Alliance, lol…. no idea how to work together,,,,,,,
Obviously never heard of the word Team ( no I in team )……
“Miss Sensible”?
Is the irony in that name intentional?
I’m assuming not.
The only person posing “posing ,pouting …. Smirking….
Blaming everything on the past” here is Seely.
Well, to be honest, he isn’t blaming everything on the past, he’s blaming everything and everyone EXCEPT those who are truly to blame.
His party and their rich chums who skim off the cream while we all get sour milk.
Phil Jordan ,old Bacon all smarmy pouting pillocks…they have been the past eg floating bridge Bacon sandwich problem etc …
Don’t be so judgemental , all our councillors and MPs are a waste of space!!!
Check out all the smarmy pouting posing photos …….
Did bob mention that funds are being cut by his party for next years schooling? Over £100 per student being cut by the tories. What are the council supposed to do?