The Isle of Wight Council is currently consulting on primary school closures.
Joe Robertson MP met recently with headteachers and parents at St Marys Catholic Primary School in Ryde to discuss how he can help them through the consultation.
Joe Robertson says, "It is important the Council needs to ensure that the consultation includes meaningful face to face meetings between senior Council officers and school leadership teams. Decisions should be based on more than spreadsheet data or pessimistic future projections for population decline. St Marys is a thriving and wonderful local community of parents, pupils and staff with really strong results and I want to see it continue."
The Birth rate nationally and on the Isle of Wight have dramatically declined meaning fewer children will be entering the school system. It is forecasted on the Island that 22 Primary Schools will be in a budget deficit and the the schools pose a significant financial risk to the Isle of Wight Council and provision of education and schooling for the younger generation. The Isle of Wight has consistently underperformed in a comparison to national trends and currently sits in the bottom 10% of local authorities for key performance indicators.
Joe Robertson has said he will continue to engage and visit schools to ensure they have the necessary support throughout the process.
