Northwood Primary School Academy Trust has said that the Isle of Wight Council’s proposal to shut down 6 local primary schools is ‘unfair’ and ‘not what was promised’.
It was back on the 4th September that the Isle of Wight Council announced that Arreton, Brading, Cowes, Godshill, Oakfield and Wroxall primary schools have all earmarked for closure next year.
The decision will help cut surplus school places in classrooms across the Island, it is hoped.
Commenting on the Isle of Wight Council’s Proposals, a spokesperson from Northwood Primary School Academy Trust has said:
“Island parents, staff and unions have all expressed concerns regarding the exclusion of academies from consideration of closure as part of the council’s proposals, particularly in light of assurances given throughout the council’s public engagement process that the review would be a level playing field for all primary schools, irrespective of type. Northwood Primary School Academy Trust agrees with these concerns; the proposals are unfair and are not what was promised.
“Contrary to Department of Education guidance on collaborative school place planning, the council did not engage collaboratively and constructively with the trust, choosing instead to maintain strict confidentiality surrounding its proposals, sharing them only partially (and also in the strictest confidence) with the Headteacher and Chair of Governors on 21st August 2024. Until the publication of the proposals on 4th September 2024, the trust didn’t know if Northwood Primary would be included as a proposal for closure or not. This seems to be a similar experience to that voiced by the Church of England Diocese of Portsmouth, regarding the proposals to close Church of England schools.
“Due to the lack of engagement by the council, it was impossible for the trust to say whether or not it would support a proposal to close Northwood Primary School as part of the reduction of surplus primary places, prior to the publication of the proposals; how can you comment on that which you have not been told? The trust is disappointed that the council didn’t make this clearer in their school place planning proposals document. Any further comments on the proposals will be made as part of the trust’s submission to the council’s consultation.”
UPDATE ON THURSDAY – In response to the above article, an Isle of Wight Council Spokesperson has said:
“On the 18th July the Council’s Cabinet considered the new draft school place planning strategy for the Island. This was a product of extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including schools, over several months.
“At that meeting Cabinet provided approval to undertake a review of the level of surplus places and increases to special educational needs provision on the Island, to support improved education standards within the context of the emerging Education Strategy.
“In August, the Isle of Wight Council had related discussions with Northwood Primary School and the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust. A local authority does not have the legal ability to propose the closure of an academy or an amendment to an academy’s published admission number. Instead, this is a matter for the academy trust and / or the Department for Education.
“This is the reason that Lanesend Primary School and Northwood Primary School were not included in the proposals published by the council on 4th September, ahead of the Cabinet meeting on the 12th September.”
