School reform options announced

Isle of Wight councillors have put forward three options for an overhaul of the island's education system.

The plans announced on Wednesday could see all secondary schools under one management or primary schools with at minimum number of pupils.

A fourth option - to put primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools under a single leadership and governance - was thrown out.

Parents and staff will now have the chance to comment on the proposals.

All of the options are financially viable and I reiterate that no change is not an option Alan Wells, Councillor

Any changes are likely to be introduced in 2010, the council said.

Councillor Alan Wells, cabinet member for children and young, said: "We are very clear that reorganisation alone is not going to achieve the improvements we need to see, but it is a very important part of the journey.

"All of the options are financially viable and I reiterate that no change is not an option."

Mr Wells said the council would now look at each area and school individually before detailed plans for each of the three options was drawn up.

"A final decision will be made in March, and I look forward to hearing the views of islanders once the consultation begins in the new year," he added.