Author: Andrew Turner's Office
Minister’s advice is to complain – through the proper channels
Monday, 17th March, 2008 at 2:22 pm, Isle of Wight
Many parents and other people have contacted Andrew Turner the Island’s MP saying that they felt that the recent schools consultation has been flawed for a variety of reasons. Islanders have told him that they feel information given was either unclear or subsequently proved inaccurate.
Others have complained that the consultation questionnaire was too complex for them to complete in full – as the form said they were required to do - or that there was no way on the form to represent their views accurately and that advice changed during the consultation process.
Mr Turner raised these concerns during a recent meeting with the Minister for Schools Lord Adonis. The message from the Minister was that if Islanders feel that they have not been able to put their views across then they should make a formal complaint to the Isle of Wight Council, and if dissatisfied at the end of that process, the matter can be escalated to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO).
Mr Turner said;
Lord Adonis was very clear that he is unable to intervene in these matters and if people wish to complain about such issues they must follow the proper procedures.
The LGO is not able to investigate complaints just because you might disagree with a decision made by the Council but is there to investigate complaints about how the Council has done something. It is an independent, impartial and free service.
Information : In the first instance anybody who feels they wish to complain should write to the Isle of Wight Council making it clear that they wish their concerns to be treated as a formal complaint, they can also complain on line.
Information about the Local Government Ombudsman service can be found on their website.
School Reform, Island-wide, Education
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March 17th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Then, let’s do it!
March 17th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Surely if enough of us were to send in a formal complaint about the process something would have to be done?
March 17th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I have already done this. Be specific. There is a form on the council website for complaints here
March 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
You have all completely missed the point. The Council had already made up their mind. They had an obligation to consult. It does not mean that they have to take any notice of you, no matter what the questionnaire said, or how it was laid out. Surely that is how democracy works. You elected them to make decisions - and they have
Just to remind you……..
IOW GCSE results in the worst 10% of the country
IOW A.levels in the worst 20% of the country
March 18th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Good point, Brian….
so let’s close all the (successful) primary schools, eh?
March 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Brian (and anyone else who still hasn’t twigged), wake up! We are NOT in the bottom 10% at GCSE. Look at the league tables! We moved up to 94/149 in 2007.
And the Isle of Wight is the 7th best LA in England for sustained improvement at 5+ A*-C including English & Maths since 2004.
Which means that, though 4% behind, we are catching up FAST, and will soon OVERTAKE the national average if the impetus is sustained. Within the current structure. How will sending all schools back to square one help sustain that level of improvement?
Bring yourself up to date, please!