MINUTES OF AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY 23 APRIL 2007 COMMENCING AT 6.00 PM

Present :

Cllrs Mazillius (Chairman), Barry Abraham, Henry Adams, Wendy Arnold, John Bowker, George Brown, Ivan Bulwer,  William Burt, George Cameron, Charles Chapman, Dawn Cousins, Mike Cunningham, John Effemey, Jonathan Fitzgerald-Bond, Barbara Foster, Deborah Gardiner, Charles Hancock, John Hobart, Heather Humby, Tim Hunter-Henderson, Patrick Joyce, Gill Kennett, David Knowles, Geoff Lumley, Win McRobert, Muriel Miller, Brian Mosdell, Erica Oulton, Lady Pigot, David Pugh, Susan Scoccia, Ian Stephens, Andy Sutton, Melanie Swan, Arthur Taylor, Ian Ward, Margaret Webster, Alan Wells, Colin West, David Whittaker, Julian Whittaker, David Williams, Jilly Wood

Apologies :

Cllrs Anne Bishop, Vanessa Churchman, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Garry Price, Diana Tuson

11. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Personal declarations of interest were received from Cllrs Chapman, Kennett and Webster, who all have family members employed in the education service and Cllr Gardiner, who is employed by Unison.

12. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Written Questions were put to the Chairman as follows:

Mr Chris Welsford of Ventnor had submitted a question, which was put by the Chairman in his absence and asked how the Council intended to use other authorities’ experience where a proven track record of success existed. The Cabinet Member advised that officers had been in contact with Leicester County Council and a visit would be arranged in the future to investigate the inclusion of Year 9 within middle schools.

Mr Chris Whitehouse of Totland Bay asked the Leader if he could ensure that Island children achieved their full potential and added that when making the decision, the children’s interests should be paramount. The Leader responded that the Council was totally committed to providing a service that would fully develop the potential of the Island’s children. During a supplementary question, Mr Whitehouse asked the Leader if he would ensure that pupils were not further distressed by suggestions from teaching staff that future provision would be lacking, and that anyone doing so would be dealt with in a rapid and robust manner. The Leader confirmed that this would be the case.

Father Bruce Barnes of the Isle of Wight Roman Catholic Pastoral Area had submitted a question, which was put by the Chairman. Father Bruce asked what assessment the Leader had made on the performance of Trinity Church of England Middle School and Archbishop King Roman Catholic Middle School and what steps would be taken to ensure their continued success. The Leader advised that all schools were kept under regular review and he had welcomed the faith schools’ engagement in discussions about the education options.

Dr James Eade asked why the director of children’s services had failed to provide a comprehensive answer as to why the Island’s education system was failing. The Cabinet Member advised that past failures had been due to a consistent lack of collaboration between schools to meet the aspirations of young people, which had been exacerbated by a lack of leadership in middle and high schools.

There being a few minutes left for public questions, the Chairman invited other members of the public to ask questions.

Mr Adam Preskey, a student of Carisbrooke High School and resident of Newport, pointed out that a large number of students had put in very valid points during the consultation period and these should be taken into account, since it was the pupils who were being affected. The Cabinet Member advised that a number of indications had been received relating to pupils being bullied to submit particular responses, but a recent meeting had shown that pupils were equally divided between the options.

Mrs Jill Wareham of Brighstone asked a question about pupils starting Year 8 in September 2007, who would be studying for their GCSE’s when the new proposals were planned to begin and which may include closure for one or two high schools. The Leader advised that no decision had been made regarding school closures.

13. MOTION SUBMITTED UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11

Cllr Deborah Gardiner had submitted the following motion for debate:

“Council notes the high level of opposition to the three Post 14 Education options presented for consultation to the Island, and therefore resolves to support a fourth option - no change to our existing school system.”

The motion was seconded and after a brief debate it was proposed and seconded that Council move directly to the vote. The Chairman advised Council that all options could be fully debated during the next item on the agenda and therefore invited Cllr Gardiner to respond before moving to the vote.

Following the vote the motion was lost.

14. REPORT ON 14 – 19 EDUCATION PROPOSALS

It was proposed and seconded that Procedure Rule 15(4) be suspended for the duration of the Cabinet Member’s address so that the Member would not be constrained by the usual time limits. Following the vote it was

RESOLVED:

THAT Procedure Rule 15(4) be suspended for the Cabinet Member’s address.

Council considered the report from the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Learning and the Director of Children’s Services regarding the outcomes of the consultation on the proposals to change the governance arrangements for high schools and to extend the age range of middle schools to include Year 9.

During the debate Members raised concerns about the extent of the curriculum, too much change to the education system in recent years, the ability of middle schools to extend to include Year 9, the effect on special needs students, the need for more vocational courses and the lack of evidence demonstrating success of the Leicester system. Some Members also felt that the two-tier system should be further investigated before a decision was made.

The Cabinet Member responded to each of the concerns raised advising that it was envisaged that pupils would have a greater choice of subjects available to them, governance of schools would be greatly improved, middle schools would receive the support and resources necessary to absorb Year 9, more vocational courses would be available and the vertical federation within school structure would remain. The motion was moved and seconded.

Under Procedure Rule 18(5) four Members stood to request that a named vote was taken.

Votes in favour: Cllrs Barry Abraham, Wendy Arnold, John Bowker Ivan Bulwer, William Burt, George Cameron, Charles Chapman, Dawn Cousins, Mike Cunningham, Jonathan Fitzgerald-Bond, Barbara Foster, John Hobart, Heather Humby, Tim Hunter-Henderson, Patrick Joyce, Gill Kennett, Win McRobert, Muriel Miller, Brian Mosdell, Erica Oulton, Sarah Pigot, David Pugh, Susan Scoccia, Andy Sutton, Ian Stephens, Melanie Swan, Arthur Taylor, Ian Ward, Margaret Webster, Alan Wells, Colin West, David Whittaker, Julian Whittaker, David Williams, Jilly Wood

Votes against: Cllrs Henry Adams, Deborah Gardiner, Charles Hancock, Geoff Lumley, and David Knowles

There were no abstentions.

RESOLVED:

THAT 6th Form provision be delivered at 3 or 4 sites, with College separate, in a Trust Foundation under a single Governing Body. Bringing together the current 5 high school provision under one leadership and governance (the 'Trust').

The Cabinet Member then proposed that middle schools should be extended to take Year 9 pupils.

Members discussed concerns about resources, commenting that too many mobile classrooms were already being used, as well as ensuring that pupils were properly informed about decisions made. There were also doubts as to whether this should be further investigated with a report being brought back to Full Council later in the year.

The following amendment was proposed and seconded:

“THAT a further report be prepared by the Cabinet Member and submitted to Full Council in September 2007.”

Following the vote the amendment was lost.

A further debate on the substantive motion ensued and following the vote it was

RESOLVED:

THAT year 9 be retained in the Middle Schools subject to the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Schools Leadership and Governance being satisfied with the conditions in the paper.

CHAIRMAN