Author: Rachael Brooks
Lib Dems Wants Answers On KS2 Results
Tuesday, 7th April, 2009 at 4:16 pm, Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight Council, Politics, School Reform
Following the release of 2008 KS2 results last week, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Jill Wareham is calling for answers from Cllr Wells and Cllr Pugh as to “why they are failing our children?”
Jill Wareham, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, said “the Conservative-run Council is failing our children. There has been so much indecision over the past four years: first the Council wanted to keep the three tier system, then they came up with the mad idea of extending the middle schools by a year (this led to a coup within the Tory ranks), then they came up with massive closures of primary schools.
“Communities have been set against communities by the possibility of their schools being closed. Is it any wonder that the Key Stage 2 results are so bad after the years of inaction and indecision by Cllr Pugh and Cllr Wells.
“The Tories are making it worse because despite all the talking, they’ve done nothing and spent nothing as far as I can tell. It’s the same with everything else – roads, Ryde Interchange, new housing at Pan, sorting out East Cowes, Eco Island and more. Clever words and fancy salaries – no action.
“The Conservatives should be cast out for their incompetence, wasting time and money and failing our young people. There is an opportunity to do this on 4th June.”
Related posts:
- Land Based Wind Turbines A Winner For Lib Dems
Island Lib Dems agree on support for land based wind... - David Pugh Answers Questions At Ventnor Town Council Meeting
Leader of the Council, David Pugh will be answering questions... - Lib Dems Response To MP Expenses Update
The Lib Dems give us their response on the MP's... - Liberal Democrats Response To Vestas News
Jill Wareham looks forward to hearing of the MP and... - Lib Dems Proposed Budget Detail With 1.5% Council Tax Rise
The Lib Dem proposals in detail....
Email This Story To A Friend
Fine words with which I agree. Could the PPC advise what the Lib Dems policy is? (Sorry Wendy for repeating your question from http://ventnorblog.com/wendy-varley-in-the-times/)
(Report comment)
What breathtaking cheek! She was of course the Councillor responsible for education in the last administration that er, made us the worst in the country at KS2.
Sure, the Tories should be making progress but Ms Wareham is the pot calling the kettle black.
(Report comment)
Island exam and test results were very poor during the 1970’s and early 1980’s and have improved hugely since then. However, they have not improved as rapidly as in most other local authority areas.
This has been put down to what generations of educators have called ‘the Island Factor’ – a feeling in many children that to move into higher education requires a complete break from and family and home whereas that is not so in middle-England. This together with a worry about building up financial debt seems to produce a lethargy in many Island children when they move into the traditional secondary age range from about Years 6 and 7.
I think it is reasonable for Jill Wareham and anyone else to question why a ruling group which promised so much on election has achieved nothing during their four years in power.
(Report comment)
Hear hear L Pinkerton. Very well said.
(Report comment)
What nonsense L Pinkerton. Since when did any child ‘leave their family’ to move up to senior school? This argument is barmy. If it were true every child who left to attend boarding school would fail,they don’t. Private education gets the best results for those able to afford it.
We certainly have an island factor. I refuse to believe our teachers are any worse than anywhere else, nor our Heads and Governors. Councillors are just as useless here as elsewhere. What I am certain we have are some terrible parents – often with very low aspirations. This country has many deprived inner city areas with children unable to communicate in English. I have friends in these areas, some teachers. That we still manage to produce such awful results despite being 100% English speaking is shocking and unforgivable.
Ms Wareham WAS in charge of island schools. Why can’t she tell us where her administration went wrong over 20 years rather than just bash the Tories? At least she would be making a positive contribution. Her attack is blatant shameful electioneering.
(Report comment)
NB No year six child will be worrying about building up debt at university! It’s a silly proposition. I would wager 11 year olds have no idea tuition fees are payable.
(Report comment)
I said higher education which starts at about 16 not senior school. Just look at the figures since 1974. The Council has them archived.
(Report comment)