Concerning rallies: I am aware of 6, two of which were in Newport but I must assume that the director was on the mainland at these times and probably missed the reports on BBC, Meridian news various national newspapers and the internet.

Regarding what happened at teachers and headteachers meetings (no apostrophes as the meetings did not belong to the teachers). What happened at and after these has been reported by many of those present, apparently risking future work to keep parents and the public informed.

There is no mention of the constantly changing data during the unofficial consultation period, the numerous conflicting statements made by leading local politicians or the disregard of the three options originally set by the council and the choice of a hybrid solution formulated by the leader at the last moment which officers are now trying hard to explain and justify.

“Education letters: Fight on Wight over closures

ISLE OF WIGHT REPLIES

I would like to take issue with your article “Save Our Schools: Fight on Wight Over Closures” (EDUCATION & CAREERS, 13 March). You say that money is a major reason for our plans to reorganise education on the Isle of Wight. In fact, the reorganisation is solely about improving results. While the council does want a fairer distribution of resources between schools, we have made it clear that all money released during this process will be used to improve services for the children.

Our proposals for closing almost half of the 46 primary schools are very much a first draft. There is room for manoeuvre and the number of eventual closures may very well be nowhere near as drastic.

The assertion that thousands of people have attended rallies outside council buildings in Newport is false. To date, there has only been one rally in Newport and police estimates were a maximum of 1,200 people in attendance.

The comments I made that appear to be critical of the leadership of heads were made in response to a question about why the issue of surplus places and very small schools had not been addressed by the education authority before. I was describing how we had arrived at our current position and was not at any point critical of schools or heads.

It is incorrect to say that many teachers “summoned” to a meeting to hear the potential fate of schools wept openly. Besides the emotive use of the word “summoned” (this was the second meeting to which head teachers were invited and they were already aware of the proposals), no heads “wept” openly, to our knowledge.

In fact, the majority of heads support reorganisation and many are critical that the step has not been taken sooner.

Furthermore, the council’s press office has not been “put in the unusual position of highlighting deficiencies in the island’s education system to justify the need for change.” Council policy is that school reorganisation is necessary to improve unacceptable standards.

The press officer’s comments were to give the writer, Steve McCormack, an overall picture of the options and the reasons for them. They were given in response to a question about whether the reorganisation was to tackle surplus places and save money – and they were not “umprompted”.

Steve Beynon, Director of children’s services, Isle of Wight”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/education-letters-fight-on-wight-over-closures-810040.html

Of course, if I knew I had no grounds for complaint I wouldn’t send an urgent letter. Simple as that.

PS does anyone care what Vera thinks now he’s leaving?