I went along to the Save Our Schools demo yesterday. Considering the weather and how long this campaign has had to keep a head of steam up, I think getting about 500 plus there was terrfic. The Tory MP was there at the start, as was the Labour parliamentary candidate Mark Chiverton, and the Liberal previous school threatener/candidate !!! Also about seven Tory rebel councillors and one independent councillor.
So now it is all down to the Full Council on Wednesday with hopefully 4 options to chose from if the opposition amendment for a Referendum is added to the choice.
Back in the 2005 Council elections some high-profile Liberal councillors lost their seats due to their arrogant disregard for public opinion over a schools reorganisation- Smart, Wareham, Harris, Barry, Kendall - but also some who did not have the trappings of Cabinet office - Fox, Lloyd, Howe, Clough for example.
In May 2009 we have Council elections again and together with those current Cabinet members who will deservedly struggle to hold their seats (if re-selected) - Brown, Cousins, Hunter-Henderson, Tuson, Wells, Pugh - will be other foot soldier Tories who may think they will be OK one year after perhaps betraying their electorates, but who will probably pay the price of defeat..........
Ladies and gentleman the next generation of unrewarded losers will include - Cameron, Burt, Hobart, Webster, Humber, Whittaker
26 comments:
How sad that this has come down to a party political issue, when it should be all about our children's education and nothing else. Even you are now using it to knock the Tories.
I was pleased to see that our MP was there. Does that mean he is against the closures? He has still made no comment about it on his personal web site. Perhaps he thinks it is less important than his ferry campaign. If so I have news for him.
Sadly it was always about party politics when it came to making a final decision. The Island electorate elected 36 Conservatives in 2005, 27 of whom plus at least one independent (a clear Council majority) still seem to be determined on a course of action that will decimate our local schools unnecessarily. My post isn't knocking them. It is merely pointing out the consequences. For someone like John Howe in 2005 read George Cameron in 2009. Ironic, since the latter beat the former in 2005 beacuse of the Liberal school proposals.
I think the MP has made his position of opposition pretty clear to the media - though it would be nice (though unlikely) to see it on his website before Wednesday
Come on Geoff you're an intelligent man. 150 people there yesterday. Apathy still rules ok.
You, Labour, the Liberals and a few oddball Tories and that's that.
Now perhaps we can get on and improve island education for all.
Mr Anonymous,
I will ask you once again.
Please EXPLAIN to me how closing small successful schools will improve the standard of education in large failing schools. How will the amount of £8 per child per annum (less costs of bussing children from closed schools) do this?
Ms, not Mr. You answer first. Why will standards decline just because the smallest schools close? Same kids, same staff just different (fit for purpose) buildings. It's a win win.
The island school system needs drastic improvement, this costs money. Closing uneconomic schools will free up cash to improve outcomes for older children. We don't have a problem win the early years.
We do have a school staffing and leadership problem. The changes will help here.
It's your Labour government that's lied about rural school policy and funding, read the national press! It's hardly surprising that humble local councillors have got confused, Minister speak with forked tongue.
This is surely the most dishonest government we've ever had. Gordon now asks for another term to make Britain great. The man is totally shameless. The trouble is I think most of his ministers actually believe they're doing a good job. The sooner Dave Snooty and pals take over the better. Fixing this bankrupt country is going to take a very long time, the Tories have always ended up cleaning up Labours mess, history repeats itself again and again.
Hello Ms Anonymous, this is Ms Interested.
I will answer you first, even though I asked first.
"Why will standards decline just because the smallest schools close?"
Because the small schools are working well in the centre of small communities close to their homes. Under this scheme they will have to stand in the street waiting for busses taking them to school in unfamiliar surroundings where they and their teachers don't want to be. Hardly conducive to maintaining their existing high standards.
"Closing uneconomic schools will free up cash to improve outcomes for older children."
We have established that closing one of these schools will provide typically £8 per annum for each child in the other schools, LESS the cost of bussing the kids to their new school, which may well cancel out all of the savings made.
"We don't have a problem win the early years."
Exactly. So why meddle with their successful education?"
So now perhaps you will finally answer MY question:
How will closing the successful small schools, and spending most of the money saved on hiring busses to drive them around the Island, improve the education standards in the large failing schools?
And this time I would like an answer please - assuming you actually have one.
You choose to ignore the fact that most parents DRIVE their kids to our village schools. The bus thing is barmy, is that your best argument?
I've already explained, closing small schools deals with the excess capacity issue and creates money to spend on all schools THIS will drive up standards for all children. It's the whole that matters not just early years. It is a fact that the government are insisting IWC deal with surplus places.
You say this will drive up standards, but where is your proof! It is a BIG gamble, standards could very easily fall. You say it will be the same teachers, how do you know? The Head teacher of Bembridge Primary (due to close), will they become the Head of the Bembridge Middle site? At present we have 69 Heads they can't all remain as Heads so which ones will stay? As they have, mostly, been against this course of action do you think they will be applying for positions here or on the mainland. Fix the failing schools first then think about any mergers. This is about our childrens futures and history has shown this route leads to falling standards (Norfolk, Lincs)
"I've already explained, closing small schools deals with the excess capacity issue and creates money to spend on all schools"
And as I have already explained, the sums of money saved by closing small schools will be trivial when spread over the very much larger number of children in the bigger, failing schools.
I have shown you my figures - if you disagree with them, show me yours!
I have an email from Jim Knight, saying that the Primary capital Funding is not dependant upon reducing surplus places in rural areas. In fact he would expect rural schools to have more empty places. We will get the funding anyway.If empty places bother you as you think they are costly, our school is due to be over capacity by 2012. The schools they propose to move us to will also be full. We could be in the situation that 5 years after closing schools we will need to build a new one in it's place. I think that will be costly.
My children attend a village school where 80% walk to school. 100% will drive if this school closes. There is NO proof that these changes will improve standards. In fact evidence suggests that standards will fall. Many studies show that small schools cost less in the long run, with children who attend them more likely to get better paid jobs and less likely to commit crime or be imprisoned. Sorry to but in on your argument, but I was getting annoyed!
That's very interesting of course, but unfortunately you are dealing with minds that are closed in order not to confuse themselves with facts. They are playing with children's future lives for no reason other than to satisfy their personal egos.
The closed minds belong to the 'save my school people.'
I think some of these parents should think long and hard before causing their darlings this anxiety. Some of these children could end up emotionally damaged -thanks to their own hysterical parents.
My two children LOVE their village school and are doing well. They walk there and back safely every day. We don't have a car and when the school closes they will have to get a bus.
The tiny bit of money saved will not help the larger schools in any way.
I find your arrogance highly offensive and I hope you don't bring your own children up to be so selfish.
You madam are the one who's selfish. My kids are ok so to hell with everyone elses. You are in a tiny minority, most people DRIVE their children to school.
You madam are the one who's selfish. My kids are ok so to hell with everyone elses. You are in a tiny minority, most people DRIVE their children to school.
I am saddened at the vitriol in the comments made by anonymous. Paticularly as they are largely based on incorrect factual bases, as have been may of the Council's arguments in pursuing the three options. Police estimates (notoriously conservative) are that there were 500 there on Saturday. PCP funding is not dependent on reducing surplus places, as MR Pugh has had to admit, I could go on ..
There are unfortunately a number of Councillors whose eyes are solely on the prize of a cabinet post if they are obedient to the leadership rather than considering the facts and, as this is a democracy, the wishes of the voters.
Why all this Tory Crap?
What is best for children going to school at 4 years old is to attend a local school. These are performing very well and are also providing good pre-school education so most of them should be left alone.
Mr (Blind) Pugh has said today that he is supporting a 2 tier outcome. Fine this can be put in place without more that 6 or 7 primary closures and the "true" surplus places can be dealt with easily by other means such as removal of temporary classrooms (we have the highest number in the country) and incorporation of community facilities in local schools. There is no loss of school building money and no appreciable revenue gain for other schools.
As there is so much animosity on both sides let us have a 10 week pause for a referendum on 2 v 3 tiers and really see what people want.
Surely the most important outcome is the best education for our children.
We keep hearing how expensive our primary schools are. Facts on spending:
England average spend per primary pupil 2006/7: £3360
Scotland average spend per primary pupil 06/07: £4138
Wales average spend per primary pupil 06/07: £3902
Isle of Wight average spend per primary pupil 06/07: £3005
(The Isle of Wight figures come from the council's education budget;
the national figures come from Hansard written answers, Lord Adonis answering a question from an MP on 28/1/08.)
Why not wait and see what they actually do?
The Council have been measured and reasonable, it's the antis who've been hysterical!
Ms anonymous, it is you who are being hysterical.
You have been given fact after fact which you are unable to refute or counter in any way. This only demonstrates what a weak case you have.
If you cannot enter a serious discussion without making personal attacks then I suggest you leave it to those who can.
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah! It's you not me.. You're very mature.
Their are none so blind as those who cannot (or will not) see.
We shall see tomorrow evening eh?
This should be about education and what is best for our children, not how many frightened councillors dare to cross their leader.
I expect you will win the vote tomorrow and our children will lose.
On the subject of education, my children who walk every day to their excellent primary school have already learned the correct spelling and use of "There".
Mr Lumley, I'm sorry that your blog has developed into a slanging match. I will not respond to this woman again.
Thank god for that!
I believe that none of the "frightened councillors" will cross their leader unfortunately, apart from those who have already nailed their colours to the mast. It's a shame they can't see that they have been misled, but there you go...
I have heard a rumour, which I hope is true, that there are moves to try to find a Martin Bell type person to stand against Pugh next year - he deserves to lose.
Ms.anonymous,
If so many people believe that this will drive up standards,why have I yet to meet one?
Speaking with other parents from a range of different schools,some on the closure list,some not,some for the two tiers and some not, the common thread that links us all is that we do not trust Pugh,Beynon and Wells to deliver the improvements we would like.
Too many "facts" that are simply not true have been told by these men.Spin has been the name of the game.
The middle classes are talking of re mortgaging their homes to pay for private education or leaving the Island for good.And the people would cannot afford to go private or move are resigned to the fact that Mr Pugh will do as he pleases with little regard for the people who voted him in.
The list of jobs for teaching staff in the CP seems to be getting longer each week.Some teachers are already voting with their feet over Pugh's plans.Let's hope,after Wednesday "victory", some of the good ones will give us parents a break and stay.
I get the feeling that you must be either be a member of the ruling Tory party or a relative as you seem so arrogant when anyone put across a point that differs from your own.It's like you're taking it personally.
You can put the whip on the Tory sheep and gag the teaching staff.But you cannot stop the people of the Island speaking out.
You probably will win on Wednesday,but come next May these deceitful Tories will probably back in the political
wilderness for another 25 years.
Well done, Mr Pugh.As a life long Tory voter,You are the only person who has ever convinced me to vote Labour or Lib Dem.Nice one!!
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