Tim Wakeley of the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats writes:  Having reviewed Tory proposals for the reformation of our ailing education services I find that they fail, totally, to address the root causes of academic under achievement by our young people, namely leadership, vision and support.
 
Island Tories have deliberately confused this review by combining the two quite separate issues of  (1) the over provision of places for pupils in the primary sector, with (2) the need to shift from an ailing three tier system to a two tier system, as adopted by the rest of the country.

This confusion has reduced the so called consultation to a war of attrition as communities now struggle to save their local primary schools, a process that totally ignores the immediate and pressing needs of our learning services which are crying out for positive leadership, vision and support.

The lack of leadership now being demonstrated is mind boggling.  Many leading Tories have never having heard of collective responsibility and are attempting to retain local favour by, hypocritically, distancing themselves from their Party proposals.

This review should offer an exciting vision for the future, such as maintaining quality provision, phasing in change, reducing class sizes and taking into account the wider role that primary schools play in our communities.  Instead it offers the wholesale slaughter of our successful primary sector whilst paying scant regard to the need for all our schools to be supported and nurtured.
 
Liberal Democrats supported primary schools in outlying areas for 24 years when in office and have been honest and consistent in their message about the need for a two tier system of education.  These policies were seriously misrepresented at the last election by Tories whose duplicitous arguments are now exposed with the consequence that instead of embracing change we find our learning services at the gates of chaos.

In a recent statement from the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats Website: Council Proposals Will Kill Rural Communities

Island Liberal Democrats condemn the Tory administration’s re-organisation proposals for closing schools across the Island. 

Closure of primary schools in our rural areas such as Arreton, where the Local Authority has just invested around a million pounds, Brading, Chillerton, St Helen’s and Yarmouth will rip the heart out of these communities.  These proposals are more broken promises from the Conservatives. They appear not to be interested in quality but simply base their decisions on money.

Children from rural areas will have to be bussed significant distances to their nearest school.  The new schools to be built in Newport will only add to the severe congestion in our main town that we already have to suffer.

Chair of the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, Jill Wareham commented:

“We believe two tier is necessary on the Island to improve children’s learning opportunities.”

“We do not, and did not three years ago, want massive closure of our primary schools. Primary schools are our strength, young children flourish in them - why cull the part that is successful.”

“All the work currently been done to extend our rural schools to involve all ages to learn, have fun and socialise in these buildings will be lost. Communities need a balance of all ages to remain vibrant. These proposals will be the death knell to many of our rural villages.”

Isle of Wight Community Information @Island Pulse.
Lead Article ©Tim Wakeley.