MP Bob Seely has welcomed an apology issued by the Isle of Wight Council’s Alliance group over its handling of recent announcements about potential school closures – but has said while it’s a good start, it’s not good enough.
In a statement issued by the Alliance Administration on Wednesday (16 August) it said it “accepts that recent announcements about schools and potential options for the future have caused unnecessary distress and uncertainty. For that we apologise unreservedly”.
Mr Seely wrote to Leader of the Isle of Wight Council Lora Peacey-Wilcox on 8 August raising concerns regarding the council’s handling of school place planning and potential primary school closures on the Island.
In his letter, he said: “Collectively, council officers, headteachers and chairs of governors have advised that for all Island children to receive a high-quality education, the Island must reduce primary school places and close a number of primary schools. I do not understand why your Cabinet took the decision to withdraw the ‘School Place Planning’ report from its agenda and delay urgent decision-making.
"Headteachers have expressed to me their surprise and disappointment.
“I would like to request your assurance that you will accept the recommendations that have been submitted by council officers, chairs of governors and headteachers; will make a decision on closing schools where it is necessary and in the public interest; and will do so in a timely way. If we do not make this decision, young people will not get the quality of education they deserve.”
Bob added: “School funding is based on pupil numbers. Fewer pupils equals less funding. There are at least 213 vacant reception places. Schools with too few pupils lack the funding to provide a good education. Keeping open schools which are too small, whilst superficially attractive, only worsens the situation. Debts rack up, teachers leave and children’s education is damaged as money is diverted from other fully-subscribed schools. That situation deserves proper, inclusive discussion – apologies, while welcome, do not address that.
“Nobody likes the idea of shutting schools, but worse is having schools that are so small that we are unable to offer a good education. Teachers are already leaving schools earmarked for closure, despite those schools now being told that they may not in fact be shut. This is a shambles. Teachers are frustrated. Parents are worried.
“I am glad the Alliance Administration has apologised, they have let Island children, parents and teachers down. I wrote to them a fortnight ago saying the situation was a shambles. Whether that has prompted action I do not know. Their apology is a good start. The most important thing now is that they grip the situation, quickly."
