After 12 years the Isle of Wight Education Federation is to disband, as Carisbrooke College, Medina College and The Island VI Form focus on improving their Ofsted ratings as separate schools. It has been announced today (Tuesday) that the formal joint federation is to come to an end, to allow each school to focus more on running as separate entities – although they will continue to work closely together and see themselves as part of a family of schools here on The Island. It’s said that this more separate approach should not adversely affect the day-to-day experience of students and parents other than meaning their transformation into Good Schools will be a continued and individual focus. Both schools will continue to learn from each other and from other schools as much as possible, a statement has concluded. Matthew Parr-Burman, Executive Headteacher of the current Federation, has said:
“Despite all the work of leaders and staff here, neither school has made the necessary jump to become an Ofsted rated Good School. We owe it to the hundreds of students who are here to transform the schools. If we keep doing the same thing we will get the same result – so we need to change our path”.
Richard Bridgford, Chair of Governors of the current Federation, adds:
“Our Federation has been together for over 12 years. It is now moving to the next phase in its journey and our Governors are fully behind this exciting move. The students here deserve the best and this change now means we will be in a stronger position to move to the next level for them.”
Yet more fiddling with Island education. At least this one won’t result in vast extra costs.
Wouldn’t be surprised if council find some way of spending money on them. Ofsted need to offer advice and support not just give a rating, Ofsted costs tax payers is around £150,000,000 think how much that could benefit schools I first place.
We pay more for someone to tell us the problem than it would of cost to prevent.
Before Ofsted, education in this country was like the wild west with countless dysfunctional schools run by idiots. There were no consistent standards and children were being taught in a haphazard and ineffective manner. Certain practices have been shown to work and their use should be enforced in all schools. The island is so backward that all primary schools are not teaching according to the simple phonics method, which is demonstrably effective. These schools are 30 years behind the norm. This is why Ofsted is necessary and why island schools always come bottom of the league tables. Effective teaching methods are simple to implement and running a school is not difficult but schools on the island struggle to perform well.