THE Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Revd Jonathan Frost, has urged council leaders to maintain open three C of E schools earmarked for closure. He speaks of their “vital and distinctive” contribution.
The Isle of Wight Council announced in September proposals to shut six primary schools, three of them C of E, referring to almost 2000 surplus places amid a national decline within the birth rate (News, 13 September). The surplus — projected to rise to 3056 by September 2027 — meant that schools “struggle to keep up a broad and high-quality curriculum”, the Council said. Data indicated that the varsity system on the island “consistently underperforms in comparison with national trends”.
The six schools earmarked for closure were chosen based on criteria that included quality of provision, children’s locations, and financial viability. The three C of E schools were Arreton St George’s, a small rural school in Newport; Oakfield, in Ryde (each of which have been rated “Requires improvement” by Ofsted); and Brading, a small, rural community primary school in Sandown (rated “Good”).
On Wednesday of last week, Bishop Frost, who chairs the council of the National Society, the Church of England’s education office, submitted a response to the council’s consultation, requesting that the three schools remain open and calling for “a pause, for significant reconsideration. . . Church of England schools offer something vital and distinctive that would easily be lost. They aren’t there to fill our pews or force religion on to people, but to serve their local communities, welcoming those of all faiths and none who come through their doors.”
He warned of “damaging, unintended consequences on the broader economies”, and pointed to “an unfounded presumption that families possess the finance and mobility to move children to other schools. This is transparently not the case.” He also complained of a “disproportionate impact on Church of England schools”, noting that, for 2 of the colleges named, the suggested alternatives weren’t C of E schools (for considered one of these, Oakfield, a Roman Catholic school situated a ten-minute walk away was listed instead).
Four of the five schools beneficial as alternatives have “Good” rankings. The council has said that transport can be provided to pupils living within the village of Arreton. For pupils at the opposite two schools, three of the 4 alternatives are situated between 1.6 and a couple of.6 miles away.
An announcement published on the diocesan website said that the rationale for closing the three schools was “not wholly clear or transparent”, and that pupils’ attainment was not listed by the Department for Education as considered one of the explanations that a neighborhood authority should use to think about closing a faculty. The proposals “disproportionately affect those families living in disadvantaged areas”, it said.
Bishop Frost has reported that diocesan staff got no prior warning by the council about which schools can be earmarked for closure, and no warning that the council might indicate alternative uses for all three school sites. “The use of land owned by the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE) just isn’t a matter for the council to find out,” he said. “Any use of our land and schools would should be approved by the DBE and with the support of the diocesan bishop. In the absence of consultation, I cannot imagine a situation where I’d give my support.”
The council reports that the number of kids and young people requiring an academic health and care plan for his or her needs has increased by greater than 60 per cent in five years, with a whole lot of latest specialist places needed. It has proposed that five of the six schools’ sites be “repurposed” accordingly.
Bishop Frost said that he supported the aim to extend provision, but argued that each one three C of E schools already delivered “specialist, well-received and integrated provision for kids with special needs”.
The Ofsted report for Brading said that disadvantaged pupils and people pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) received “high-quality support”; one parent described it as “going above and beyond’.
The Ofsted report for Arreton St George’s, nonetheless, said that pupils with SEND were “not supported well enough in lessons. Staff don’t at all times provide pupils with the assistance and resources they should help them learn successfully. As a result, pupils with SEND don’t achieve in addition to they need to.” The council has proposed establishing a “latest therapeutic high anxiety mental health provision” on the location. Just 12 children living inside a one-mile radius of it.
There are currently 12 C of E primary schools on the island, including one maintained in partnership with the Roman Catholic Church.
