The Isle of Wight Council has been slammed for the way it announced, and then consequently reversed, a decision to close 4 primary schools.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the authority announced its intention to consult on the future of 3 schools last month — Cowes, St Mary’s Roman Catholic and Wroxall. It was also looking to amalgamate Chillerton and Rookley Primary with its sister Godshill, effectively closing the smaller rural school.
Due to the fierce backlash the proposals received last week, the authority withdrew them and it is now seeking a different approach. Speaking at a scrutiny committee meeting last night (Tuesday), Councillors expressed their dismay over the proposals and how it was communicated to the public.
Wroxall representative Councillor Rodney Downer said it had been extremely badly handled, causing consternation with parents, pupils, staff and the wider community. He said it was very insensitive as it was announced the day before schools broke up and it seemed to be based on statistics, not worrying about people.
Cllr Debbie Andre, the cabinet member for children’s education said there was a lot of misunderstanding and confusion and stressed no school closures had been proposed, only consultation. She recognised lessons could be learnt from the way things were handled and apologised for how upsetting it may have been for all those concerned.
Cllr Karl Love said he was less than impressed with how the information was released as it had caused a lot of concerns. School closures, however, were inevitable, he said, and were long overdue.
Cllr Joe Lever said the broader issue that needed tackling was the government funding model for schools which would continue to mean low pupil numbers would equal school closures.
The scrutiny committee recommended there should be more communication with schools before the proposals were published; more rigorous evidence on why those schools were chosen; and if other options had been considered and dismissed.
Cllr Downer felt the damage had already been done due to the panic it has created as parents may look to move their child from the schools.
The matter will be discussed further at the Council’s policy and scrutiny committee for children’s education tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 17:00.
The IWC making a decision and then back tracking on it, with no sense of shame or embarrassment? I don’t believe it.
I am not smart enough to be an IOW Councillor, however even I can see a link between falling numbers of pupils and a lack of affordable housing, meaning IOW families have to move. The latest census shows more people die here than are born here, and a reduction in all age groups apart from retirees. Perhaps if the IOW Council concentrated on genuinely affordable homes, infills and brownfield development for local families, we could keep our schools and our greenfield areas..
Debbie it’s not about being smart that’s makes a good councillor.. it is being honest and transparent, those two should be the priority prerequisite..
So I think reading after your message you should think about making a real difference for the islanders, you have my vote !!
Not the last we have heard about this. There are too many school places and £800k is being wasted each year from our council tax. These schools (and probably others) are bound to close given the plummeting birth rate on the island.
Expect nothing better from the IWC, armatures at work .. spending your money .. perhaps an alarm bell at the next council election.. time for a real change, had far too many back to back failure administrations.
“armatures at work” – please, please use psellcheck
if you had studied electrical engineering el capitan, you’d also think that the Council are a right bunch of armatures! winding us up all the time.
dyslexia rules KO
Thanks El Capitan ..
“Cllr Downer felt the damage had already been done due to the panic it has created as parents may look to move their child from the schools.”
By saying this Cllr Downer has effectively encouraged people to move their child to a different school and ensure that Wroxall school gets axed. Doing the council’s work for them. Or is that how this cunning plan works? This councillor must have known this was going to be announced after all …
“Cllr Joe Lever said the broader issue that needed tackling was the government funding model for schools which would continue to mean low pupil numbers would equal school closures”
Does this councillor have a brain? Obviously, low pupil numbers equals school closures. He appears to be suggesting that we keep near-empty schools running just to make a few people happy while wasting vast amounts of council tax. And this man is a councillor!! God help us.
Perhaps it is the way the letters and conversations are worded that offended so many people.
The ex-clerk from Bembridge who is involved in such matters and is working for the I.W Council now, upset an entire village with a callous, cold attitude and a heavy handed approach when dealing with similar businesses / peoples lives issues there.
So now unleashing people skills in other areas it would seem.