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New Two Tier Education Structure –
What Happens Next? In March 2008 the Isle of Wight Council voted to adopt a new two tier structure for our schools. Here we look ahead to the implementation of the system from September 2010
Work is underway on how best to implement the new two-tier education structure for the Isle of Wight. |
On 19 March a majority of councillors voted to opt for the two-tier model following extensive consultations with the public, pupils, teaching staff, governing bodies and others.
The new primary and secondary school model will replace the existing primary, middle and high school structure. | |
The role for each existing school site under the new model will be revealed later in the summer.
Primary schools will be established with a mix of one and two classes per year group while secondary schools will feature sections for 11 to 14 year olds (lower) and 14 to 19 year olds (upper). No major changes will be brought in until at least September 2010.
Formal consultation between the council and schools, nurseries and pre-schools will take place over the summer before legal statutory notices are issued later this year.
| | Council education officers will explore a number ways forward as part of the reorganisation. These include how leisure facilities can be co-located with school provision, how Island businesses can be involved in the delivery of the new 14 to 19 diplomas, and how all children are able to get to school safely within an acceptable daily travel time. |
The new structure will allow funding to be more evenly distributed among schools and will release extra money for students who are vulnerable or have special educational needs.
All resources released during the reorganisation will be reinvested into children’s services and capital money raised will be utilised with government funding to deliver the best learning environment for Island schoolchildren.
Council leader, Councillor David Pugh, said: "The debate to reorganise our education system has been going on for years, but finally we now know which direction we are heading in. In one sense, the journey is now only just beginning and we now start the long road to improve educational standards. It is very important we continue to work closely with the teaching profession and their representative bodies, parents, schools, governing bodies and children to ensure the transition to a two-tier system is a smooth one.”
| Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Councillor Alan Wells, said: "During the consultation process, it was made clear the Island favoured a two tier system and that is what we will now work towards. Representations made during the consultation played a huge part in shaping the model we are now working towards, and I am looking forward to seeing the changes brought in over the next two years.” | |
Director of Children’s Services, Steve Beynon, said: “Thousands of parents, teachers and students told the council to make a decision regarding the future of education on the Island, and members have now done that. I know that all our teaching staff will continue to provide the highest standard of education during and after the process of change. This is a an historic and exciting time for education on the Isle of Wight.”
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