The government's Secretary of State for Education has promised to pay a visit to the Isle of Wight.

Nadhim Zahawi was responding to a question and an invitation from Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely. 

Education on the Isle of Wight has been identified as a target area in the government's levelling up agenda.

The plan aims to give every child the skills they need to fulfil their potential, no matter where they live and the Island is named among more than 50 'cold spots,' where school outcomes are the weakest.

What are the government's plans for Isle of Wight schools?

The Department for Education says the Island will be prioritised for a new specialist 'sixth-form free school' and schools that have been judged below 'good' in successive Ofsted inspections could be moved into 'strong multi-academy trusts'.

During a Q and A at Westminster yesterday afternoon (Monday), Mr Seely said: "The Island has made good progress in improving its education in recent years. I'm delighted for that.

"I'm very keen to get as much out of these education investment areas as we possibly can and to drive up standards further and that ambition was very evident in my recent visit only a few days ago to Christ the King College a few days ago.

"The education secretary has had many invites today. Would the secretary of state please come to the Isle of Wight so they can see the excellent work we've done in our college and also our schools?"

Mr Zahawi replied: "That is far too tempting an invitation to turn down, so I shall make time to visit the Isle of Wight and of course I'll be saying more on the work we're doing in the schools' white paper."

Critics have dismissed the government's plan.

Read more: Isle of Wight reacts to government education levelling-up plans

What have critics said about the government's Isle of Wight education plans?

It will be "more academisation, more elitism, more focus on high stakes tests at primary schools and nothing about overturning years of funding cuts in schools, smaller classes, creativity and accountability," according to Islander and Green Party education lead Vix Lowthion.

Labour's Cllr Richard Quigley, Isle of Wight Council's chair of education scrutiny, accused the Conservatives of causing the funding issues and called for more to be done.

Peter Shreeve, the assistant district secretary of the Isle of Wight's National Education Union, said 'tinkering' with the system would not solve the ongoing problems.