A strategy of cutting pupil numbers rather than closing Isle of Wight primary schools, is not effective, says a group of headteachers and governors.
In letters submitted to the Isle of Wight Council education committee by a group of school bosses, they say the council’s no closures strategy doesn’t add up.
At the moment, there are too many empty places in primary schools.
The council’s cabinet, however, has said that no schools are to be closed.
Trying to find a solution, council officers have instead approached schools asking them to lower their pupil admission numbers (PAN) ahead of a forecasted significant decline in pupil numbers.
The birth rate on the Island has reached its lowest since 1941 and pupil numbers in primary schools could drop from 9,200 in 2017 to 8,000 in 2025.
The move has faced backlash from school leaders with two open letters submitted to the children’s education policy and scrutiny committee yesterday (Thursday), signed by 18 primary school headteachers and the chair of governors group.
Each letter criticised the proposed PAN reduction and called for a strategic approach.
Speaking at the meeting, Maggie Sanderson, executive headteacher of both St Thomas of Canterbury and St Mary’s Catholic Primary Schools in Carisbrooke and Ryde, said managing places purely by reducing PANs was not an effective strategy and is not sufficient to address the overall position.
She said:
“We believe we need to act decisively and effectively in planning primary school places, bringing them in line with the required number.
“We do not advocate closing all small schools, however with the increasing financial demands that impact schools of all sizes, we feel a strategic approach is essential.
“As heads, we approach this discussion with some personal trepidation, we understand the implications, however, we believe the strongest outcome for Island children is working strategically, rather than responding individually, by reducing PANs.”
Cllr Tig Outlaw said reading the officers report had been depressing and thought the PAN reduction suggestion was ‘genuinely dreadful’.
He thanked the officers for trying to find a solution but said cabinet had ‘tied the hand of officers together’ with their view on school closures.
Cllr Outlaw said cabinet needed to address the reality that some schools would have to close to achieve the right education for the Island’s children.
Cllr Outlaw told Cllr Debbie Andre, cabinet member for children’s education, he desperately needed her to understand the promises made at an election meant nothing when it came to children’s education and doing what is right for them.
The scrutiny committee, following the advice of Cllr Andre, agreed to take the report to cabinet, devising options with headteachers and governors to find a suitable solution.
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