Around 50 concerned parents, pupils and allies gathered outside County Hall yesterday afternoon (Thursday) to protest the proposed closure of 6 primary schools – but councillors last night decided to press ahead with the consultation process.
Ashley Whittaker, the Council’s Director of Children’s Services, and Councillor Jonathan Bacon, cabinet member for education, recommended a consultation on the reduction of surplus school places and expansion of Special Educational Needs provision in a report presented to the Cabinet.
Cabinet members agreed to follow the recommendations and consult on the closure of Arreton Primary, Brading Primary, Cowes Primary, Godshill Primary , Oakfield Primary and Wroxall Primary School.
But the schools are not going down without a fight, as was evident from the crowds of protestors making their voices known outside County Hall – receiving plenty of encouragement from passing motorists who honked their horns in support.
Brading mother Rachel Mace – whose 9-year-old attends the local school – told Island Echo:
“The proposed closure is just awful. Brading is a small community where everyone knows everyone else. It’s one big family.
“Just last year, everyone settled in. Now, it’s all been turned upside down.”
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Pete Wenman – whose son Noah attends Year 5 at Brading Primary – added:
It will be extremely inconvenient for parents having to travel either to St Helens or Sandown on the bus. And St Helens doesn’t have the facilities Brading provides. There’s no kitchen, so children can’t eat freshly cooked meals at the school.”
Nick Binfield – who has children in Years 2 and 4 at Brading – expressed his anger and frustration by stating:
“The proposed closure of Brading Primary is an attack on a rural community that has had its heart ripped out. They have targeted Brading as a poor community, thinking we are a soft touch.
The school is full. There are no free places. We need to keep education in Brading.”
Gemma Gerrard – who has had 3 children attend Cowes Primary – did not believe the decision to shut her children’s former school to have been fair, stating:
“There are 4 schools in the Cowes area, 2 of which are academies. We are the 2nd best school in Cowes. Why are you closing ours?
“We want the school closure plan to be a fair fight, based on evidence.
Nell Stanton – whose mother is a reception teacher at Cowes Primary – said:
“Stats show that Cowes is an amazing school. It has overperformed consistently. This was an unfair decision.
“The reason the school has had fewer pupils this year is because potential parents believed it was at risk.
“I’ve seen the work they do for their pupils and the community. The school brings a lot for Cowes.”
A&E doctor Melanie Thornton – who has a son in Year 1 at Cowes Primary – told Island Echo her concerns:
“The wrap around care at Cowes makes the school flexible for HHS workers. This allows us to be available to help in the hospital if needed.
“Nearly all the children live in a 1 mile radius. All the parents would be driving elsewhere. The traffic impacts would be horrendous.
“Gurnard is already full. They would be forced to create 2 temporary classrooms in the field. The Council are trying to force children into a school without the capacity.
“Why do 2 good schools need to be destroyed while poorly performing academy schools survive? There hasn’t been a fair consultation.
“If the academies in the Cowes area had been considered for closure, then the decision would have been different.”
Responding to his recommendation being approved by the cabinet, Councillor Bacon has said:
“I’m pleased it was passed because I think it is the right thing to do.
“I think it was a difficult decision for all of us round the table – nowhere near as difficult as it was for many in the public gallery and listening online to take on board.
“But we are now launched on a process that I will hope, and will aim as best I can todirect, be as open and transparent as possible so all those concerns, fears, wishes that we heard about tonight are considered, actively considered and dealt with as part of the process we’re now going to follow.”
Councillor Suzie Elli, Ward Member for Central Rural – which includes Arreton, Godshill – has said:
“Whilst I fully support the long-overdue school place planning strategy for Island Schools, I was devastated to learn that both remaining Primary Schools in Central Rural – Godshill and St Georges, Arreton – are among the six primary schools named for consultation on closure. Together with Wroxall Primary, this decision could leave the rural centre of the Island, and some 400 children, entirely without primary provision.
“Since last Wednesdays’ announcement, I have visited both schools to offer my support, attended an information evening held for parents at Godshill, spoken with many parents, and am working closely with headteachers and governors to explore alternative solutions that would not leave the rural centre of the Island without primary provision.
“There is an absolute need for change, but we must ensure it’s the right change, incorporating compromise and sustainability for our communities.
“I will work proactively with the schools, the wider communities, and IWC officers and Councillors to look at alternative solutions to ensure that primary school education can be sustained within the rural centre of the Island”.
For ‘consultation’ read ‘decision’
Thats a surprise,the council ignoring its residents
No matter what you do what you say the council will take no notice of any of you.
all they want is control and you council tax with nothing given back to the island.
just remember when you are voting next time around
As always it doesn’t matter how much one protests , once a decision is made by the would be powers they won’t budge. Pointless having meetings . To see an impact the whole of the school needs to come out ,all parents and boycott the meetings. No guarantee it will have affect but it’ll have more of an effect then a handful with placards .