Isle Of Wight Councillors Face Grilling Over Proposed School Closures

Isle of Wight councillors and council officers received a grilling over possible school closures yesterday evening at Newport’s County Hall.

Concerned members of the public asked a series of searching questions of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee, from the council chamber’s gallery on the potential closure of primary schools in Cowes, Arreton, Oakfield, Brading, Wroxall and Godshill.

Parents, a headteacher and a Unison trade union secretary inquired about where children will be accomodated after school closures, consultation with school staff, trade unions and parents and provision for children with physical impairments.

They also raised concerns regarding faith education, longer commuting distances, parental choice, financial difficulties and delays to the possible closures process.

Arreton mother Sahara King said:

“I’d like to ask what provisions are being put in place for children with physical impairments – my son has quite serious vision issues – he will need a safe environment that has no stairs, that has wider hallways, that has markings and such.

“But also one that is not crowded and one that he will have a chance to learn to map. If not, he will have to be deschooled and continue his education at home.

“I’m not quite sure in the proposal that I’ve seen physical disabilities and impairments for children are being taken into consideration.”

Naomi Carter, the council’s service director for education, inclusion and access, responded:

“If this is voted on and we go through the consultation process, then for every child in the affected schools we’ll be working with parents to make sure their individual needs are met and we’ll be working with the schools to ensure we can meet those needs effectively.”

Mark Chiverton, the Unison Isle of Wight local government branch secretary, said:

“We’ve just come from a meeting with senior management and the trade unions have been happy in terms of the dialogue that’s been established so far but I just wanted to highlight the fact there is a deep anxiety amongst all types of staff in all the schools, not just the schools named, but also amongst those schools that potentially might be affected in other ways such as special schools.

“And I’m aware of the deep concern amongst the parental community as well.

"I just wanted to ask what steps the scrutiny committee will be taking to ensure that there is the maximum possible consultation with staff and their trade union and professional association representatives – but also with parents and community groups attached to each of the schools.”

Councillor Clare Mosdell, chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee, answered:

“The reason that we’re looking at this today at corporate scrutiny is because it’s on the cabinet agenda.

“The right place for it to sit will be in children’s services scrutiny committee. I know that they’re going to have a meeting on October 17 where there will be a meeting – the whole meeting will be for this agenda item.”