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Author: Sal

Schools Proposals Presentation to Ventnor Town Council

Friday, 3rd October, 2008 at 3:47 pm, Isle of Wight

6, October 2008
6:30 pm

Under the proposals for changes to the schools system, all primary schools in Ventnor will close and merge on the site of Ventnor Middle School in Upper Ventnor.

Don't Destroy My EducationIt has been proposed that this new school become entirely voluntary aided (as St Wilfred’s currently is) rather than voluntary controlled (as St Margaret’s and St Boniface are).

As highlighted on the Standards Not Tiers Standards Not Tiers Website, “With a Voluntary Aided School, the governing body is appointed by the Church not the local authority. The Church appointees make up the majority of the governors and they not the local authority employ the staff and set the admissions criteria. The Bishops determine the religious education curriculum for the school.”

The Ventnor Town Council have only recently been made aware of these proposals and as the end of the first round of formal consultations closes on Friday 10th October, a special meeting has been arranged to hear a presentation by Keith Simmonds, who holds the post of Head of Policy, Planning and Commissioning regarding schools in the Ventnor area.

It is expected that many parents will take the opportunity to attend the meeting, not only to hear Mr Simmonds’ presentation, but also to hear how the councillors feel about the proposed changes.

Therefore the meeting will take place in the Main Hall at the Winter Gardens instead of the Lower Meeting Room. The meeting starts at 6.30.

You have until 5pm on Friday 10th October to send your comments on the proposals to

Alex Moffatt
Schools Project Manager
County Hall
Newport
Isle of Wight PO30 1UD

Alternatively you can email him on moving.forward(at)iow.gov.uk

Education, Events, Ventnor


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12 Responses to “Schools Proposals Presentation to Ventnor Town Council”

  1. insider Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    It might be an idea for someone to record the meeting as the council probably wont bother….and even if they do they will probably award the contract to record it before all other bids to carry out the recording have been received.

  2. Sal Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
    That would be a good idea - we can’t attend as we’re visiting potential middle schools for our year four child. Ventnor and Lake open nights are both being held at the same time.
  3. Bertie Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    If anyone is considering going AND recording the meeting, I would advise them to make it clear that they intend to do so and to ask of there would be any objection to recording.
    I intended to record a meeting held with two officers last month, but was told that it was considered to be “inappropriate”.
    Do NOT stoop to their level and do anything underhand..
    Make your intention clear and if it is considered inappropriate, then you should draw your own conclusions and take shorthand notes if possible.

  4. Sal Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
    Thanks Bertie, bear in mind that the VTC have given permission for TC meetings to be recorded.
  5. James P Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    “Ventnor and Lake open nights are both being held at the same time”

    Another fine bit of joined-up thinking by the LEA!

    I suppose Nodehill (open night Wednesday) is a bit far for you? Great school, though.

  6. Bertie Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 9:50 am

    Point taken Sal, but this is not a Town Council scheduled meeting.
    If you check the site, the next scheduled TC meeting is 13 October.
    I’m just pointing out that they could refuse permission for recording on a technicality.

  7. Sal Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
    @ James: We have been very impressed with Nodehill and will definitely be checking that out too.
  8. Sal Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
    @ Bertie: Good point.
  9. New Voice Says:
    October 5th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    Re recordings - The School Reform Consultation Meetings that I attended were also attended by ‘The Sound and Light Company’ who I thought were just supplying a sound system. However they could of (and probably were) recording them. Anyone else see this company at any other meetings?

    Incidentally, I believe that ‘The sound and Light Company’ is the said company owned by Newport North Conservative Councillor - Peter Andrew Humber ( See his biography here :- )

  10. Kerry Says:
    October 5th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

    I don’t remember being told by the council about the meetings being recorded when I went to a couple of the early consultation meetings.

  11. Greenboy Says:
    October 6th, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    Chris Welsford recorded the meeting tonight in Ventnor and I look forward to hearing the podcast,

    Brian Lucas

  12. James P Says:
    October 7th, 2008 at 8:04 am

    I hope the microphone worked better than my ears, as the acoustics in the hall were terrible. Keith Simmonds’ replies were hard enough to hear, let alone understand!

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