Education reforms on the Isle of Wight
Encyclopedia
Education reforms on the Isle of Wight is part of a process to change the Isle of Wight
's education from a three-tier system
to a two-tier system
. The debate as to how this should occur was first started in 2004, lasting until 2008. Three options were put forward at the start of 2008 as to what kind of education system would be best to move forward with. However as all included the closure of large numbers of island schools, they produced a negative reaction with many local islanders, resulting in protests occurring in the main towns of Newport, Ryde, Shanklin and Sandown. A final decision was made in May, announcing which schools would be closed. The decision was made based on all three options put forward, instead of going down one definite path. The reforms were first implemented in September 2008, with everything aimed at completion by September 2010.
undertook a consultative process aimed at changing local education structure, to a two tier school system which would bring the island in line with the rest of the country. The move was opposed by a lobby known as Standards not Tiers based in Upper Ventnor and the Conservatives
, who, after they won the local council elections in May 2005 shelved the proposals pending further investigation.
The Annual Performance Assessment of the Isle of Wight Council's Education and Children's Social Care Services 2005, carried out by Office for Standards in Education
and the Commission for Social Care Inspection
, found low levels of achievements for pupils in schools and a lack of significant and sustained progress over the last five years. Overall, the Isle of Wight Council
’s capacity to improve its services for children and young people was judged to be 'adequate', out of the four ratings 'very good', 'promising', 'adequate' or 'inadequate'.
In 2006, the regional Learning and Skills Council
proposed an option which meant replacing the secondary school
s' sixth form
s with central provision at the Isle of Wight College. In January 2007, the authority rejected this proposal, and instead offered its own, which included a reduced number of secondary schools and the retention of Year 9 pupils in Middle schools, extending their range to form 9-14 schools and 14-19 provision at High Schools, an arrangement adopted nowhere else in the United Kingdom.
The debate took on new urgency at the start of 2008, when three 'key options' were put forward by the Isle of Wight Council for public consultation, each of which meant the closure of at least half of the Island's primary schools. On 14 January 2008, the Council announced that at least 23 primary schools and one middle school (expected to be Nodehill Middle School) would be closed, whichever education pathway was chosen in March.
Three main options were put forward at the start of 2008, with an option being chosen in March 2008. Under the options at least half the Island's existing primary schools would be closed. Twenty-three primaries and one middle school whichever option was taken.
The Isle of Wight Council says it could save up to £2 million a year in money that would be spent on small primary schools, that under the new system, wouldn't be needed. The changes will begin to be introduced from September 2008, with the final changes complete by September 2010.
DJ Alex Dyke as a result of the Council's plans for education reforms. Between 1,000 and 1,250 took part in the protest, including parents, teachers and students. The Island MP Andrew Turner, with two other councillors also attended the protest, disagreeing with the plans.
Later protests also occurred at Shanklin through the leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Councillor David Pugh's ward, with a silent march through the town. Later protests occurred at Sandown and Ryde, with a final protest taking place again in Newport.
As a two-tier system requires no middle schools, by September 2010 there will be 38 primary schools in total and six high schools. The sites of existing middle schools will either be used for new amalgamated primary schools or new sites for high schools. Forelands Middle School and Nodehill Middle School are currently the only middle school sites which will have no use after their closure.
The first stages of implementation took place in September 2008, with the final stages aimed at being complete by September 2010. This involved ABK Middle School and Trinity Middle School merging to form Christ the King College
. Although the site currently only takes years 5-8, by the time the system is fully implemented it will take a full age range. Kitbridge Middle School also merged with Downside Middle School. So far, two headteachers from both Medina High School
and Cowes High School
have announced they will be stepping down before the start of the new term in September, stating the education reforms as an influence to their decision.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
's education from a three-tier system
Three-tier system
Three-tier system, meaning a system that has three distinct levels, may refer to:* Three-tier * Three-tier * Three-tier education...
to a two-tier system
Two-tier system
A two-tier system is a type of payroll system in which one group of workers receives lower wages and/or employee benefits than another.The two-tier system of wages is usually established for one of three reasons: 1) The employer wishes to better compensate more senior, ostensibly more experienced...
. The debate as to how this should occur was first started in 2004, lasting until 2008. Three options were put forward at the start of 2008 as to what kind of education system would be best to move forward with. However as all included the closure of large numbers of island schools, they produced a negative reaction with many local islanders, resulting in protests occurring in the main towns of Newport, Ryde, Shanklin and Sandown. A final decision was made in May, announcing which schools would be closed. The decision was made based on all three options put forward, instead of going down one definite path. The reforms were first implemented in September 2008, with everything aimed at completion by September 2010.
History
In 2004, the Isle of Wight CouncilIsle of Wight Council
The Isle of Wight Council is a local council. It is a unitary authority covering the Isle of Wight, South East England. It is currently made up of 40 seats, with the Conservatives as ruling party with 24 councillors at the latest local election in June 2009....
undertook a consultative process aimed at changing local education structure, to a two tier school system which would bring the island in line with the rest of the country. The move was opposed by a lobby known as Standards not Tiers based in Upper Ventnor and the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, who, after they won the local council elections in May 2005 shelved the proposals pending further investigation.
The Annual Performance Assessment of the Isle of Wight Council's Education and Children's Social Care Services 2005, carried out by Office for Standards in Education
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
and the Commission for Social Care Inspection
Commission for Social Care Inspection
The Commission for Social Care Inspection was a non-departmental public body and the single, independent inspectorate for social care in England. Its sponsor department was the Department of Health of the United Kingdom...
, found low levels of achievements for pupils in schools and a lack of significant and sustained progress over the last five years. Overall, the Isle of Wight Council
Isle of Wight Council
The Isle of Wight Council is a local council. It is a unitary authority covering the Isle of Wight, South East England. It is currently made up of 40 seats, with the Conservatives as ruling party with 24 councillors at the latest local election in June 2009....
’s capacity to improve its services for children and young people was judged to be 'adequate', out of the four ratings 'very good', 'promising', 'adequate' or 'inadequate'.
In 2006, the regional Learning and Skills Council
Learning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council was a non-departmental public body jointly sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Children, Schools and Families in England...
proposed an option which meant replacing the secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s' sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
s with central provision at the Isle of Wight College. In January 2007, the authority rejected this proposal, and instead offered its own, which included a reduced number of secondary schools and the retention of Year 9 pupils in Middle schools, extending their range to form 9-14 schools and 14-19 provision at High Schools, an arrangement adopted nowhere else in the United Kingdom.
The debate took on new urgency at the start of 2008, when three 'key options' were put forward by the Isle of Wight Council for public consultation, each of which meant the closure of at least half of the Island's primary schools. On 14 January 2008, the Council announced that at least 23 primary schools and one middle school (expected to be Nodehill Middle School) would be closed, whichever education pathway was chosen in March.
Options
- Option One - primary/juniorhigh/learning centres - would leave three primary schools, one junior high and one learning centre in the Cowes area, three primaries and one junior high in East Cowes, four primaries, two junior high schools and one learning centre in Ryde, two primary schools in the East Wight, four primaries, two junior highs in South East Wight, three primaries and one junior high in the South Wight, four primaries and one junior high in the West Wight and six primaries, two junior high schools, one learning centre and one faith college (9-19) in Newport.
- Option Two - a two-tier primary/secondary set-up - would leave two primary schools in the Cowes area and one secondary school; two primaries in East Cowes, five primary schools and one secondary school in the Ryde area, one primary school for the East Wight, four primary schools in the South East Wight area, two primary schools in South Wight, two primaries in the West Wight and six primaries, two secondary schools and one faith college in the Newport area.
- Option Three - a similar two-tier set-up - would leave four primary schools and one secondary school in the Cowes area, three primary schools in East Cowes, five primaries and one secondary in Ryde, two primaries in the East Wight, five primaries and one secondary in the South East Wight area, three primary schools in the South Wight area, four primaries in the West and seven primary schools, two secondary schools and one faith college in Newport.
- Fourth option - A fourth option was put on the table, calling for a refurendum on school structure to allow islanders the chance to have their say. However this option was defeated when the council voted to pursue a two-tier schools structure.
The Isle of Wight Council says it could save up to £2 million a year in money that would be spent on small primary schools, that under the new system, wouldn't be needed. The changes will begin to be introduced from September 2008, with the final changes complete by September 2010.
Protests
The 'biggest protest the Island has ever seen' occurred outside County Hall in Newport on 26 January 2008 at 10:00am lasting an hour until 11:00am, led by Isle of Wight RadioIsle of Wight Radio
Isle of Wight Radio is an independent local radio station in Newport on the Isle of Wight. The station began transmitting from Briddlesford Farm AM transmitter on April 15, 1990...
DJ Alex Dyke as a result of the Council's plans for education reforms. Between 1,000 and 1,250 took part in the protest, including parents, teachers and students. The Island MP Andrew Turner, with two other councillors also attended the protest, disagreeing with the plans.
Later protests also occurred at Shanklin through the leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Councillor David Pugh's ward, with a silent march through the town. Later protests occurred at Sandown and Ryde, with a final protest taking place again in Newport.
Final Decision
It was finally announced on 23 May 2008 which schools would be closed.iwcp.co.uk, 23 May 2008 School reform plans revealed The final decision took parts of all three options, bringing the island into line with the rest of England with a two-tier system. Three primary schools will close completely, with 15 others no longer operating on their current sites. St Helens Primary, Chale CE Primary, and Weston Primary School were all announced to be closing completely, while others are amalgamated onto existing primary or middle school sites.As a two-tier system requires no middle schools, by September 2010 there will be 38 primary schools in total and six high schools. The sites of existing middle schools will either be used for new amalgamated primary schools or new sites for high schools. Forelands Middle School and Nodehill Middle School are currently the only middle school sites which will have no use after their closure.
Implementation
Christ the King College, Isle of Wight
Christ the King College, is a joint Church of England and Catholic college located in Newport on the Isle of Wight. It was created in September 2008 by amalgamating two older schools, Archbishop King Middle School and Trinity Middle School. As such, the school is on two separate campuses, both...
. Although the site currently only takes years 5-8, by the time the system is fully implemented it will take a full age range. Kitbridge Middle School also merged with Downside Middle School. So far, two headteachers from both Medina High School
Medina High School, Newport
Medina College is a trust-supported secondary school on in Newport on the Isle of Wight, formerly Medina High School.-History:Medina High School was founded in 1976 on the current site. By the 1990s, the school suffered from a falling roll and finances, with Richard Williams brought in as head in...
and Cowes High School
Cowes High School
Cowes Enterprise College is a state-maintained secondary school located on the outskirts of Cowes at Crossfield Avenue on the Isle of Wight, previously Cowes High School.-History:...
have announced they will be stepping down before the start of the new term in September, stating the education reforms as an influence to their decision.
External links
- Save Our Schools website - saveiowschools.co.uk
- Standards not Tiers website - yourschoolneedsyou.com