The chair of governors of a primary school has slammed the Isle of Wight Council for deferring the final decision on its future once again.
In a letter sent to Councillor Debbie Andre, the council’s education lead, Diane Barker, on behalf of the Stenbury Federation, has criticised the council’s handling of the future of Chillerton and Rookley Primary School.
After listening to concerns from campaigners and the council’s scrutiny committee, Cllr Andre deferred the school closure last week. She is to speak to the Island Free School about forming a partnership.
Now, Ms Barker has questioned a lack of communication with the council, saying the governors felt ignored. She said:
“You claim to be a listening administration. We haven’t felt listened to at any point.”
She said they had ‘high expectations’ of councillors taking decisions fairly, openly and transparently, so it was with ‘disappointment and frustration’ they learnt the decision was discussed with the Save Our School campaign before it was made, but not Stenbury governors.
Ms Barker also said at no point had the Alliance administration refuted any of the ‘misinformation’, ‘slurs’ or ‘claims’ made by the campaign which had a ‘damaging effect on all involved.’
She said the authority had not listened to the majority of voices in the community who had responded to the consultation — which showed 32% preferred to close the school and send pupils to school in Godshill.
Ms Barker said:
“Council decision-making appears to be currently influenced by false rhetoric and not driven by hard evidence, however difficult and unpopular these decisions may have to be.”
The governors have called for the decision to be explained to them; them to be told what the school’s way forward will be and what the council’s revised timeline looks like. They are also demanding to know why the Island Free School had a meeting to discuss a new governing body but the couincil chose not to communicate with the current one.
The letter was also sent to Cllr Andre in an email from opposition Conservative group leader, Councillor Joe Robertson, copying in all council members.
In the email, Cllr Robertson says it was in the interests of everyone concerned that Cllr Andre show accountability and leadership. He said:
“Your handling of this situation is making the council look ridiculous while children and families are suffering from the ongoing uncertainty you have created.”
The council DO NOT LISTEN TO ANYONE
Its all about how much they can take away from people who pay there wages pay rises and pensions nothing less.
More and more families are moving to the island, it would be silly to close the school. Classic example is closing East Cowes Family Centre and then having new families move in then having to reopen it!
I agree with Deedee. As I understand the Stenbury governors don’t want to save Chillerton and Rookley school and didn’t want to discuss solutions with the Save our School campaign either. Debbie Andre seems to be trying to find a solution here. If it means the closure of another rural school is avoided I’m sure parents, children and teachers won’t mind waiting.
I applaud Cllr Andre and her decision to defer. All options need exploring before ever closing a school. It’s always been very obvious from the start that the school was being steered towards closure by a neglectful governing body. The school was once thriving only a few years ago. Shame on the Stenbury Federation for not exploring all options for keeping it open and they sound most bitter by the tone of Di Barker’s letter. I do hope there can now be a more positive future for Island primary education – we need a positive way forward and the Island Free School could certainly be the answer here…