Unlike some people I am not easily re-assured, especially when information is conflicting, or just plain illogical.
Yes, the published plans for the Downside School site include a new Pan primary school to service the new development, AS REQUIRED. However, the Pan development will be built from 2009 until 2020/2021 and will produce (I am told) a maximum of 60 school age children per year group once it is completed. Therefore, the need for a new 2-form entry school isn't going to arise for some years. In the meantime there are always places at Barton and Summerfields Primary's - both in the local area. I would estimate the earliest the new school would be built to be 2014/2015.
In the meantime the Downside site is going to be used as temporary overflow school for Medina Secondary - from autumn 2011 until the summer of 2012. An overflow site with 'a single leadership and a single governance'. Though the Council's published plans do not mention the word 'temporary' and imply that Downside is going to have two schools on site, a new primary and a Medina lower school - clearly utter rubbish !
Consequently there will be a gap of at least two or three years where there will be no school whatsoever operating on the Downside site. In effect a closure, as I claimed one week ago - though the media seems to prefer the Council spin on this rather than the truth.
Looking at the overall plans there is massive spin associated with their publication. There are currently 67 schools on the IW, not including the two special schools. That is a figure easily researched. 46 are primary and there will be 38 after reorganisation. That's 8 less. Plus 16 middle schools closing, makes 24 closures. A couple of new schools in the long distant future - at Pan and West Wight - makes a net figure of 22 school closures. Its still carnage in my view.
Finally the monitor on my home PC died this morning. Its still under warranty, but I may be online a little less this week, as I have to borrow Mary's PC. Just in case you are trying to contact me, please bear with me.
7 comments:
Its not just the cllrs that are falling out! I'm told the Boy King ordered the MP off the guest list for council events - Big Green Picnic VIP party (big loss!) and slags off Turner and his wife big time.
What's the MP done wrong then? Not gone along with Pughnoccio's stories? Not giving up his job for the Boy Blunder to take over? What fun itmust be to be a Tory on the island!
You know whats going on Geoff?
Rumours about the Turner/Pugh conflict have abounded for months. Probably based on the MP's ill health. But I'm afraid I only hear rumours......
Hello Geoff,
Where did you get this bit from:
the Downside site is going to be used as temporary overflow school for Medina Secondary - from autumn 2011 until the summer of 2012.
Isn't it all happening in 2010? Is our Downside keeping years 6-8 for that year? Is newport a year later?
TIA:.)
From the briefing document I was sent by the IW Council on 15 May, and which was shared with Newport school governors. Downside would seemingly continue as a middle school in 2010/11, but without a Year 5 intake. It would close as a school in July 2011.
However, I would treat everything you hear with immense scepticism - even what I report here - as much will change between now and November.
Thanks Geoff
Yes, no Mp or partner at council organised VIP events. Word is Pugh is working to have Turner removed as Mp. I wonder who he has in mind as a candidate?
If the boy Pugh ran the country like he's managed the schools fiasco God help us all. My spies tell me the Tory Group are plotting to remove him. DP could soon be back selling envelopes and pens, presumably not to kids returning to schools he's closing?
I can't understand what what these Tories are all about. The Labour party is in losing support nationally, worst ever local election results etc etc. You'd expect the Island Tories, like their leaders on the mainland, to be taking every possible advantage of it. But instead they seem determined to make themselves even more unpopular than Labour.
I suspect at the next Island elections the Apathy Party will get the biggest vote.
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