Last chance to take part in “essential” school closures consultation

Today is the last day Islanders can have their say on the proposed closure of five primary schools as part of a legally required and “essential” Isle of Wight Council consultation.

Since January 3, residents have been able to share their views with County Hall on closure notices issued for Arreton St Georges CE Primary School, Brading CE Primary School, Cowes Primary School, Oakfield CE Primary School and Wroxall Primary School.

They can also comment on a proposed 12-place primary resourced provision for children with Autism Spectrum Condition at The Bay CE Primary School in response to a need for further specialist provision for children with Special Educational Needs Disability (SEND).

The ruling Alliance administration says the disputed plans are a response to a ‘significant decline’ in Island and national birth rates over the last five years.

There are currently 10,724 primary school places available on the Isle of Wight but the overall number of primary pupils is expected to fall from 9,300 in 2017 to 7,640 in three years’ time, according to council data.

County Hall says by addressing surplus places and realigning primary school provision with the number of Island children, it will aim to begin improving education standards.

Education cabinet member Cllr Jonathan Bacon said there had been a “healthy response” to the consultation with a large number of emails received.

He said: “Consultation is an essential and key part of the process. All the responses are collated, all are assessed, all are read and all are passed to the decision makers for consideration as part of the decision making.”

The plans’ detractors have raised a variety of concerns however, including over 200 possible job losses, the community significance of schools earmarked for closure, disruption to children’s education, longer commuting distances and the perceived unfairness of the process being followed for reaching a decision on the proposals.

At an extraordinary full council meeting last week, trade union leader Mark Chiverton spoke of a “real risk to the future of children’s education” as a result of losing staff and “immense cumulative experience”.