The Leader of the Isle of Wight Council has today (Monday) revealed plans to secure the future of secondary education in Sandown following the announcement by the current operator, Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), that it intends to close Sandown Bay Academy for financial reasons.
It is proposed, with the unanimous support of The Bay Primary School’s governing body, that the existing local school will expand to accommodate children aged 4-18 to create an all-through community school operating over 2 sites. Should AET decide to close Sandown Bay Academy, the buildings and land revert back to the Isle of Wight Council and can then be used to form the larger school to include secondary education.
There is a statutory consultation process that would need to be undertaken by the Isle of Wight Council to change the age range of The Bay CE Primary School to include secondary aged students. The process to be followed is fairly straight forward and could be undertaken relatively quickly. However, this option is only available if AET proceeds to closure and the school is not re-brokered to a different academy sponsor by the Regional Schools’ Commissioner.
Speaking today, Council Leader, Councillor Dave Stewart, says:
“We remain determined to do all we can to secure the continued provision of secondary education in Sandown. Next week, we will be launching a consultation with the community on two options for doing this. One would be to find a new academy operator to replace AET. The other would be to support the governors of The Bay Primary School in changing their admission criteria so that in effect we have one, all-through, 4 -16 or 4 -18 school in Sandown, providing education on the two sites just as at present. The leadership team of The Bay Primary School have already demonstrated a solid track record of delivering school improvement and good outcomes for students, so this is a very attractive option.”
A briefing paper circulated today to all elected members of the Isle of Wight Council explains that such all-through provision can bring educational benefits and that there are hundreds of secondary schools around the country with around 1,000 pupils that are financially sustainable and educationally successful.
Councillor Chris Whitehouse, who leads for education on the Isle of Wight Council, adds:
“Sandown deserves, and we hope will have, its own secondary school. Officers have already met with the governing body of The Bay Primary School who were unanimous in their support for going out to consultation on this option. The Conservative Administration of the Council backs the plan, the governors back the plan to consult on this option, we now need to know if the current and future parents of Sandown want it to happen. Officers are also proceeding to do a detailed feasibility study to check the figures are sustainable.”
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Bob Seely, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate, backed the plan saying:
“If elected on Thursday, I will be backing this plan 100% and urging the Schools Minister to help make it happen. It would be unthinkable that Sandown doesn’t have its own secondary school. I’ve supported the parents’ campaign to save the school, and this is an excellent way forward.”
The consultation will be launched on Monday 12th June and will involve a series of public meetings at which pupils, parents, school staff and the wider local community will be invited to share their views on the proposals.
