Island Echo always welcomes letters to the editor, which may of course not reflect the views of the publication and its staff.
Letter to the editor – Tuesday 25th February 2025
“I appreciate this letter is written during a time of serious uncertainty and a lot of distress to many across the Isle of Wight who are directly affected as a result of these proposals.
“I can understand we have gone through 2 very quick and difficult periods of consultations in order to express our concerns/ideas and strategies around these closure proposals. We understand fully the impact it is having mentally, financially and emotionally on our children, our day to day lives before, during and certainly after the decision on 6th March 2025, the impact to our communities.
Article continues below this advertisement “My question is just that: We have all been forced to understand the severity of the situation, our children especially more than anybody else, but have the 8 cabinet members preparing to take these legal decisions fully understood every minute of the school closures proposal?
“I have heard that there may not be a full member cabinet vote given on 6th March due to a conflict of interests? Well again it’s a conflict of interest to all of us involved but we don’t get the right to choose the final outcome of our school’s future.
“If there is not a full cabinet vote in place on the day in question then I don’t agree a vote should be made at all, it is further evidence of an unfair process. If the cabinet member has a conflict of interest, then he can rightfully vote to oppose? Why is that not even being considered?
“Further research has also shown public evidence of celebrations being made and a good progress of report in the current planning progress for the island education department and strategic planning? Please can this be explained by such members that this is acceptable and appropriate behaviour? Honestly, it’s insulting and humiliating to our children, our schools and our communities.
“If there was anything worth celebrating our standards of education on the island would be exemplary, certainly not the worst in the country.
Article continues below this advertisement “I feel we are being played a fool’s game, and if votes can’t be done within equality and respect then I fully support the Diocese of Portsmouth and all affected stakeholders to seek legal action against these closures.
“Wroxall doesn’t deserve this. None of the schools deserves this. The council cabinet needs to think first and act responsibly.
A Wroxall Stakeholder
What you have to remember is Bacon, Jordan and the gang at county hall really don’t have the islands interests at heart. They are just there for the perks and pay outs and to run down services while making us pay more for less. Protesting may help, but how far do you protest before being labelled with the new buzz phrase by starmers army, “Far Right”. They go on about birth rates dropping but what happens when it goes up again, which it will, no schools anymore, the sites will be sold on. This council are acting in an anarchic, and self centered way, Jordan and Bacon are the worst of the worst in charge as well.
Well said Irish every word you say is true about Bacon and Jordan, I do not believe one word they say.
Words fail me, we fought so hard to get the new school replacing the old village school that Wroxall had outgrown, and finally celebrating with a Royal opening.
Whilst happy for Godshill I do not understand the reason for saving this particular school, it offers little room for expansion, no sports ground and bang on a very busy main road.
So very sad for all in Wroxall, a school is the heart and hope of a Community
Bacon especially, always telling porkies, and as for Jordan, if I wrote my real views on him, it wouldn’t get posted on here, not “Far Right” just the truth.
If classrooms are not full, then schools must close,
we cannot keep schools open waiting for birth rates to
go up.
You don’t half talk some crap. Forward planning not backward thinking, thank god you don’t make any decisions of any importance.
He’s an idiot with a perverse obsession with closing schools
If classrooms are not full, then schools must close,
Keep them open, smaller classes equals better education, if you want better education then you have to pay for it.
Dont sell your assets, you will never get them back. You WILL need schools again so keep the buildings and repurpose them to something else until they are needed again.
Exactly
If you want better education, private schools
are available.
We cannot afford smaller classes in the current
climate.
Teachers salaries and building costs etc.
Our Council tax is already going through
the roof.
And what kind of education did you receive?