A special Full Council tonight saw clear agreement to combine the 5 Island High Schools into one Trust with a single management and a single governing body; and no future choice for Island students and parents. The vote was a 'named' one, with 35 in favour (including six opposition councillors - Bowker (LibDem), and independents Stephens, Miller, Humby, Foster and Chapman) and just 5 against (Deborah and I, 2 LibDems - Adams and Knowles, and one independent - Hancock). Interestingly one in six Tories weren't present.The Council then agreed to transfer Year 9 into Middle Schools provided certain conditions were met, by 32 votes to 7 (Bowker again with the Tories, but Stephens and Miller now against). That is what will close at least one of the 5 High School sites.
Throughout the debate on these two issues there was no LibDem contribution to the debate. Additionally the 'free vote' in the Tory group showed no difference from a 'whipped vote', demonstrating perhaps the semi-ovine characteristics of that group.
Our own motion to retain the existing school system, whilst working to improve standards and collaboration, was lost with only us 2 in favour, and everyone else against ! So much for effective opposition from the LibDems.....
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