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Education Cabinet Member Faces Renewed Round Of Questions From Concerned Residents

The councillor at the forefront of controversial school closure plans faced a renewed round of questions from concerned Isle of Wight parents and campaigners on Wednesday evening.

At an extraordinary meeting of County Hall’s full council, education cabinet member Cllr Jonathan Bacon was probed on a range of issues largely relating to the proposed closures of Arreton St George’s CE Primary School, Brading CE Primary School, Cowes Primary School, Oakfield CE Primary School and Wroxall Primary School.

Questions covered subjects such as the community significance of Wroxall Primary School, free early years childcare and education, the case for closing Brading CE Primary School, the process followed for reaching a decision on the proposed closures and invitations for councillors to visit Oakfield CE Primary School.

Those in the gallery also asked about the possibility of additional closures and disruption, faith schools and the involvement of the Diocese of Portsmouth in the process and provision for Year 6 children.

One member of the public asked:

“Has the proposal for closing Wroxall Primary School taken into consideration that Wroxall school fulfils a needed community hub as a place where children can learn safely in a rural location, a place that performs a very needed nursery, a place where families meet, a location that could be expanded and cater for special needs education?”

Cllr Bacon replied:

“We understand that Wroxall Primary School serves a rural community, providing a learning environment for children living locally. We are also aware that the school has a pre-school provision located on the school site.

“Your suggestion to expand the school to accommodate a special needs education is something that could be considered, should the decision be taken by cabinet to close the school.

“The proposal to close the school is not taken lightly and we assure you that all aspects including the school’s current and potential future contributions to the community are being carefully considered.

“The decision-making process involves a thorough review of the school’s impact on the community, financial implications and the educational outcomes for the children.”

Another resident asked:

“Three of the schools on the proposed schedule of closure are faith schools. There’s a requirement to provide alternative faith schools upon closure and the land the schools stand on belongs to the Church of England.

“How much of those two issues will affect the council’s proposed plans moving forward, especially with regard to provision for SEND pupils?

“How much involvement in this process was offered the dioceses, other than attending meetings once the proposals had already been published?"

As Church of England schools, Oakfield, Brading and Arreton primary buildings are owned by the Diocese of Portsmouth.

Cllr Bacon responded:

“Whilst it is not a statutory requirement to automatically allocate pupils from a closing Church of England (CE) school to another, if parents’ or carers’ preference is for their child to attend an alternative CE school, the local authority would work with them to understand which is closest to their home address.

“The Isle of Wight Council has identified plans to expand the number of special educational needs and disability provisions across the Island by more than 200 places. Part of this expansion programme has already commenced.

“Both dioceses are a key stakeholder in providing quality education to our Island’s children. They have been part of the school place planning board meetings through out but they are not a decision maker in the process.”

He added “all feedback” received from the dioceses has been and will continue to be considered as part of the process and current consultation.

The council’s four-week statutory consultation on the proposed closures will end on February 3.

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