Isle of Wight Cllr Melanie Swan of the Non-Aligned Group of Councillors reports:  ‘Ruling Tory Group Out of Touch With Communities’

I attended the march to save Weston School on Saturday and I was appalled that none of the Isle of Wight Council Leader’s came to listen to what parents, children, school governors or any other residents had to say about their proposal to close Weston School.

Monday’s launch of the new education proposals have caused widespread shock and misery as parents, children and school staff faced the closure of their schools and, in many cases, the loss of their jobs and an attack on the very heart of their community.

Cllr Joyce also attended the rally to listen to parents and answer questions about the Government decisions used by the current regime to justify their draconian measures.  As the former Cabinet Member for Education, he is unequivocal in saying the Isle of Wight Council is responsible for the decision to close Primary Schools, not the Government.

As former Cabinet Member for Children’s Services: we were working on proposals to integrate Education and Children’s Services so that we could give children the best possible start in life.  The Primary school sector is fundamentally important, not only to children’s education but also for the role it should play in supporting families, engaging parents and binding communities together.

If this Leadership Council wants to realise its assets, it should be shedding office space, not Primary schools.  We should be taking the workforce to the children by basing it in the community and where better than in the Schools?.

©Island Pulse Community News Provided By Cllr Melanie Swan of behalf of the Non-Aligned Group of Councillors.