SOS - Save Our Schools!

Schools Reorganisation Affects Everyone - That Means YOU!

The National Association for Small Schools in conjunction with Standards-Not-Tiers, present:

Mervyn Benford - International defender of small schools.

7:30pm St George’s Football Club, Newport - Monday 22nd September 2008

Flawed Consultation = Illegal Consultation
Are We the Victims of this Type of Crime?

Mervyn Benford, Information Officer for the NASS (National Association for Small Schools) will present an analysis of the current education consultations and show you how the local authority, have already failed in their duty to consult adequately with you.

He will outline the consultation process for your benefit rather than the benefit of the Local Authority and explain how you should respond to the consultation.

Mervyn Benford was instrumental in reversing the decision to close large numbers of schools in Shropshire, Hereford & Worcester and Cumbria earlier this year and has been working with a number of schools on the Island over the last few months to help them prepare responses to the consultation with the aim of preventing their eventual closure.

Mervyn has spent his whole working life in education, as a teacher, Ofsted inspector and as an LEA officer.

Small Schools Are Best

As advocates of small scale education, NASS have amassed a vast array of research based evidence to show that small schools outperform their larger counterparts and add significant value to the life experiences and future success of their young people and their local communities.

This meeting has been convened by SNT to provide access to this information and help all schools under threat of closure to make full use of the expertise of the NASS in defending themselves against the Isle of Wight Council’s unreasonable attack on them.

Please come and lend your support - your council is closing local schools to save money. They have no sound educational reasons for the closures and we have the proof. Of the 23 schools that are to close, 61% are judged good or better by Ofsted. Closing Good schools is not about raising standards.

Come Support Your School

SNT (Standards-Not-Tiers) are members of the National Association of Small Schools. By joining with the NASS and the education think tank HSE (Human Scale Education), SNT have demonstrated their commitment to the retention of small schools. By living up to their name and concentrating on standards not tiers, SNT have committed to developing a community focussed education system for the Isle of Wight with which to drive up standards by abandoning the current political obsession with tier based policies.

Have a drink in the “The Last Chance Saloon”! There will be a bar available and so those attending the meeting will be able to enjoy a drink and exchange ideas and views with others in a similar predicament and with members of the NASS and SNT teams. We look forward to seeing you there.

There are four meetings being arranged over the next week or so for parents of pupils at specific schools.

In case you hadn’t received notification, here are the details from the EduWight Web site.

Wednesday 10 September 6.30pm – 8pm Venue: Cowes High School
Parents from Love Lane Primary School, Wootton Primary School, Northwood Primary School and Cowes Primary School invited

Thursday 11 September 6.30pm – 8pm. Venue: South Hall, Sandown High School
Parents from Gatten & Lake Primary School, Newchurch Primary School, Broadlea Primary School and Niton Primary School invited

Wednesday 17 September 6.30pm – 8pm. Venue: Ryde High School
Parents from Dover Park Primary School, Binstead Primary School, Greenmount Primary School, Haylands Primary School and Nettlestone Primary School invited.

Thursday 18 September 6.30pm – 8pm Venue: Carisbrooke High School
Parents from Summerfields Primary School, Barton Primary School, Hunnyhill Primary School and Nine Acres Primary School invited.

With thanks to Ventnor Blog.

Statutory Consultation on Education Reform starts this week.

In addition to meetings at every Island school, beginning with those to be closed, amalgamated or federated, there is a series of meetings for parents to get information from officers and make representations about the shake-up.

The formal consultation period begins on Monday 23 June and lasts until Friday 26 September at 5pm. Representations can be made in writing to Alex Moffat, School Reorganisation Project Manager, Isle of Wight Council, County Hall, Newport, PO30 1UD or via email to moving.forward@iow.gov.uk

Meeting Dates and Locations

• Tuesday, June 24, 6.30-8pm, Cowes High School (for parents of Solent Middle, Somerton Middle and Cowes High students.
• Thursday, June 26, 6.30-8pm, Sandown High (Lake Middle, Forelands Middle, Sandham Middle, Sandown High).
• Friday, June 27, 6.30pm-8pm, Osborne Middle (East Cowes Primary, Whippingham Primary, Osborne Middle).
• Wednesday, July 2, 6.30-8pm, meetings at Chale, St Helens and Weston primary schools
• Thursday, July 3, 7-9pm, Cowes Yacht Haven public meeting.
  
• Wednesday, July 9, 6.30-8pm, Carisbrooke High School (West Wight Middle, Nodehill Middle, Carisbrooke High).
  
• Wednesday, July 9, 6.30-8pm, Medina High School (Downside Middle, Kitbridge Middle, Medina High).
  
• Thursday, July 10, 7-9pm, Cowes Yacht Haven public meeting.
• Wednesday, July 16, 6.30-8pm, Ryde High School (Bishop Lovett Middle, Mayfield Middle, Swanmore Middle, Ryde High).
  
• Monday, July 21, 6.30-8pm, Ventnor Middle (Wroxall Primary, Chillerton and Rookley Primary, Godshill Primary, Ventnor Middle).

Presumably there are more meetings to come as some areas such as Sandown Bay seem to have been missed out.

For more details, view the Eduwight website.

The Council is holding a series of public meetings across the Island where you will have a chance to hear a brief presentation, ask questions and share your views on the options.

Have your say at Swanmore Middle School, Tuesday 5 February 2008 7pm.

The Council is holding a series of public meetings across the Island where you will have a chance to hear a brief presentation, ask questions and share your views on the options.

Have your say at Sandown High School, Monday 4 February 2008 7pm.

The Council is holding a series of public meetings across the Island where you will have a chance to hear a brief presentation, ask questions and share your views on the options.

Have your say tonight (Thursday) at Medina High School, Thursday 31 January 2008 7pm.

Adrian Whittaker, Chairman of the PTFA at Swanmore Middle School is organising an event on Tuesday 5th February at 6pm, an hour before the Consultation Evening.

Peaceful demonstration at Swanmore Middle School Tuesday 5th February 6pm-7pm
Please bring posters/drums.
This is before the consultation evening which starts at 7pm.
07955113317

The Council is holding a series of public meetings across the Island where you will have a chance to hear a brief presentation, ask questions and share your views on the options.

Have your say at Cowes High School, Wednesday 13 February 2008 7pm.

The Council is holding a series of public meetings across the Island where you will have a chance to hear a brief presentation, ask questions and share your views on the options.

Have your say at West Wight Middle School, Tuesday 12 February 2008 7pm.

The Council is holding a series of public meetings across the Island where you will have a chance to hear a brief presentation, ask questions and share your views on the options.

Have your say at Ryde High School, Monday 11 February 2008 7pm.

The Council is holding a series of public meetings across the Island where you will have a chance to hear a brief presentation, ask questions and share your views on the options.

This meeting will have a sign language interpreter present for those who need the service.

Have your say at Carisbrooke High School, Wednesday 6 February 2008 7pm.

The Council is holding a series of public meetings across the Island where you will have a chance to hear a brief presentation, ask questions and share your views on the options.

Have your say at Forelands Middle School, Tuesday 29 January 2008 7pm.