Birth Rate Issue Needs Addressing Says New Island Education Cabinet Member

The Isle of Wight “still has an ongoing birth rate issue” which will have to be addressed, the council’s new education cabinet member has said.

Speaking to the press after joining County Hall’s ruling executive last week, Councillor Claire Critchison said funding for Island schools would continue to be a challenge amid rising costs and changing needs.

Cllr Critchison replaces Cllr Jonathan Bacon who departed from office last month, half an hour before a crucial vote on five proposed school closures.

The Alliance administration ultimately opted to close primaries in Cowes and Arreton but not those earmarked in Wroxall, Brading and Oakfield.

In a blistering attack on most of the cabinet who chose not to back all five of the closures, Cllr Bacon’s resignation statement said their “unacceptable” last minute turnaround meant “political needs” were put before the interests of Island children.

The former education cabinet member led the closures process which the council said was a response to a falling birth rate and ‘declining pupil population’, warning of ‘significant risks’ to some schools’ ‘financial sustainability’.

“I don’t want to dwell on that process. It seemed like a lot this time with the schools, and I think that was what was hard for people,” Cllr Critchison said.

“In the past it’s just been one school here, one school there but because this problem started in 2018 or before and wasn’t dealt with at that point, it’s escalated.

“The birth rate only went down because of Covid, not up, so we’re now in the position we’re in.

“The process was correct – everything was taken into consideration, it was an Island-wide approach – and that process will have to be restarted again.”

The Green Party representative for Chale, Niton and Shorwell said she stepped into the post seeing an “opportunity” and having an “interest in the area”.

She also wanted to be “helpful” with County Hall’s transition to a new committee system of governance which will take effect from May.

As to how effective the new model is likely to be in dealing with the Island’s education challenges, Cllr Critchison was uncertain.

“I know the director of children’s services, Ashley Whittaker, has worked in a committee system before.

"The new committee for children’s services will have to decide the way forward for this process.

“Hopefully they’ll deal with it in the best way possible, but school closures are never easy – no one wants it to happen.”