A six week period of consultation involving four primary schools and the way they’ll be managed as part of Isle of Wight Council’s wider proposals to reorganise the education system, gets underway on Friday 11th September.

The schools involved are Brading CE VC Primary School and St Helens Community Primary School (both East Wight) and Shalfleet CE VC Primary School and Yarmouth CE VA Primary School (both West Wight).

This further period of consultation is taking place for these four schools only, as following an Independent Panel review, revised proposals were agreed by the Cabinet in March 2009. It is therefore necessary to undertake this further period of consultation, which would be followed by the publication of statutory notices.

If these proposals are agreed for implementation, it is intended that this process will align with that proposed for the rest of the Island – which would include the retention of Year 5 in September 2010.

In the East Wight, the council is proposing that Brading and St Helens both become schools of at least 0.5 form entry and an age range of 4-11 on their existing sites, with each of the two governing bodies developing, consulting upon and agreeing on arrangements to establish a statutory federation, with each other. A federation of Brading & St Helens would achieve at least a combined 1 form entry across the two sites.

In the West Wight, the local authority and Church of England Diocese of Portsmouth and Winchester is proposing that Shalfleet and Yarmouth both become schools of at least 0.5 form entry and an age range of 4-11 on their existing sites, with each of the two governing bodies developing, consulting upon and agreeing on arrangements to establish a statutory federation, with each other. A federation of Shalfleet and Yarmouth would achieve at least a combined 1 form entry across the two sites.

The consultation gives the opportunity to make comments on the proposals for Brading and St Helens and Shalfleet and Yarmouth respectively.  The council proposes that in the East Wight, Brading and St Helens, and in the West Wight, Shalfleet and Yarmouth, would both have a single governing body and be run under a federation – known as a ‘statutory federation’.

Public meetings, which will also be for groups and organisations that must be consulted under statutory guidelines, will be held on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September.

On Tuesday 22nd September, the meeting will be held at West Wight Middle School between 1800 – 2000 for the Shalfleet and Yarmouth proposals.

The following night on Wednesday 23rd September, a meeting will be held at Sandown High School (South Hall) also between 1800 – 2000 for the St Helens and Brading proposals. Meetings for the respective schools staff and governors will be held from the week commencing 5 October.

Consultation will end at 1800 on Friday 23rd October.

Anyone who wishes to send in their views to the council must do so in writing. This can be via letter to Alex Moffat, School Re-Organisation Project Manager, Isle of Wight Council, Floor 3 County Hall, High Street, Newport, PO30 1UD.

Alternatively they can send an email to brading.sthelens@iow.gov.uk for the two East Wight schools and shalfleet.yarmouth@iow.gov.uk for the two West Wight schools.