First school reform meeting held

Julie Packham wants her son to go the her old school

Plans to overhaul the education system on the Isle of Wight was met with protests from parents at the first public meeting to discuss the proposal.

Councillors have put forward three options, which would all mean that at least 28 schools would close.

On Wednesday, four Conservative councillors resigned over their own party's plans for change.

The council argues that a change is needed to raise the island's below-par education performances.

We will just be reinvesting it in better facilities in fewer schools Steve Beynon, Isle of Wight Council

Until recently, the Isle of Wight sat in the bottom 10% for national GCSE results.

But in 2007, its ranking rose to 94 out of 148 local authorities.

Nearly a fifth - 17.5% - of its primary school places are empty.

Steve Beynon, director of children's services at Isle of Wight Council, said: "The money we spend on children now will be the same money we will spend in the future.

"The £76m that is spent on school children will still be £76m. We will just be reinvesting it in better facilities in fewer schools."

Julie Packham, whose son is set to attend the same school she went to, Hunnyhill primary school, which would be closed, said she is upset about the plans.

"It means a lot to me because I learnt a lot here and also I want my children's children to come to this school. I think they will go far," she said.

Rural schools hit

The first of three options now being put forward involves tweaking the existing three-tier system into primary schools, junior highs and learning centres. This would result in 28 existing schools being shut.

The second option would be to switch to two-tier primary and secondary schools, some with sixth forms, closing 41 sites.

The third option is the same but it would allow more smaller primary schools, which would mean that only 32 existing schools would be lost.

Critics say all three options would mean rural schools would suffer and pupils would have to travel much further to get to school.

A final decision will be made in March and any changes are likely to be introduced in 2010, the council has said.