Parents gathered at Cowes Primary School on Monday for a tense question and answer session with Isle of Wight Council officers about the potential closure of the school.
Director of children’s services Ashley Whittaker chaired the evening meeting which discussed the possible closure, included in the council’s school place planning proposals and consultation.
Cabinet member for children’s services, education and corporate functions Jonathan Bacon and Ashley Whittaker have previously said the reduction in places is necessary to improve the quality of the Island’s education and ensure the financial stability of schools and families.
They have asserted the current oversupply of places is “inefficient”, “unsustainable” and holds back childrens’ educational outcomes.
At the start of the gathering, Mr Whittaker said the council “absolutely understands” the “sensitivity” of the subject but added it does need to make changes to the Island’s primary schools.
Naomi Carter, the council’s service director for education, access and inclusion, presented a graph showing the number of four-year-old children starting school at the beginning of each academic year.
She stated the Island’s declining birth rate was a “key factor” in explaining why “really difficult decisions” were having to be taken around school surplus places.
The council officer added that the number of children with special educational needs and disabilities and education, health and care plans is increasing across the Island.
“As a new team, one of the things that we are committed to is to ensure that special educational needs is at the forefront of our plans”, Carter said.
Mark Chiverton, Unison’s Isle of Wight local government branch secretary, commented:
“It’s quite clear that there is huge consternation and frustration and unhappiness amongst the entire staff group about these proposals.”
The trade unionist added staff feel the consultation is almost being carried out on an “uneven playing field” due to some other schools in the Cowes locality “not really” being involved in the process.
One parent asked:
“How are you going to make my child’s transition into Year6, ongoing, as smooth as possible?”
Ms Carter answered:
“We’re working really closely with all the different schools – we spoke today with (headteacher) Stephanie and her team around a transition plan before that – if children are going to a different school we want to work with both schools to ensure that the cohesive curriculum is built up and friendship groups are retained where possible.”
Another parent asked:
“It sounds like it’s for us to propose options to consider during this consultation – the only option I’m aware of that’s been proposed is that Cowes closes – the kids go to Gurnard, somehow.
“Did you consider any other options for this area?”
Jade Kennett, service director for strategic development at the Isle of Wight Council, answered:
“We’ve considered a number of options when looking at those two key areas – quality of education and travel distance – I’ll pick up on the travel distance.
“Cowes and Gurnard are by direct distance 0.5 miles away, so we’ve got two schools in very close proximity.
“Gurnard is a consistently good school.”
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