School planning proposals which could lead to the closure of six Isle of Wight primary schools will come under the spotlight at County Hall next week.
Members of the policy and scrutiny committee for children’s services, education and skills will scrutinise cabinet member Jonathan Bacon and director of children’s services Ashley Whittaker’s proposals to reduce surplus school places and expand special educational needs provision, currently under consultation until November 1.
Primary schools potentially facing closure are located in Arreton, Oakfield, Brading, Wroxall, Cowes and Godshill.
Focus points for scrutiny next Thursday include the accuracy of future pupil number projections, “accessibility issues” for students from various socio-economic backgrounds and how essential infrastructure will be created to support proposed changes.
Councillors will also consider actions to mitigate any “negative impacts” on the community, how proposals fit with long-term education aims and policies and how the plans will adapt to possible shifts in demographics and educational needs in the future.
Bacon and Whittaker have said the Island’s high number of surplus school places is “inefficient”, “unsustainable” and harmful to childrens’ educational outcomes.
Forming part of the council’s emerging new education strategy, the school planning proposals have been set out in a 56-page document, published last month.
The paper stated:
“Making sure there are the right number of places in our schools for all children living on the Isle of Wight who need them is an important responsibility.
“Having a large number of empty places has educational implications for our pupils.
“The funding a school receives is largely based upon the number of pupils it has.
“A class with 20 pupils in it generates approximately £45,000 less funding for the school than a class of 30 pupils.
“This reduces the ability of the school to provide resources, trips, and afford staffing to support those pupils.
“If a number of classes within a school have significant empty places the school is more likely to find it difficult to balance.”
The plans have however been met with considerable opposition from concerned parents, teachers and community campaigners, with public meetings and petitions organised across the Island.
Last Thursday, parents protested with councillor Michael Lilley outside Oakfield Primary School.
Jen Hughes, a mother whose petition has gathered over 1,200 signatures, spoke of the school community being “blindsided” by the proposals.
She said the plans could result in threatened jobs and “disregarded” pupils.
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