The Isle of Wight Council's handling of spare school places is damaging children's education, Island MP Bob Seely has told the Secretary of State for Education, while County Hall's education lead has slammed a decision not to invite any council representatives to meet Gillian Keegan in person.

Since the visit, Mr Seely has written to Ms Keegan over his concerns about Isle of Wight councillors’ approach to school place planning and what he perceives as their 'lack of decision-making'.
 
He said: "I told her I was worried.  I told her teachers were concerned and parents were concerned. They need clear decisions and good leadership and we have had neither.
 
“I have written to government ministers and I am talking with senior education officials this week, to see what can be done and what powers they have to make sure the Alliance coalition fulfil their legal obligations.”
 
To Ms Keegan, Mr Seely wrote: "In my opinion, councillors are not fulfilling their statutory duties.

"Failure to address school place planning this autumn has delayed it by an additional year. This will result in worse education, more debt, good teachers leaving, parents being frustrated by the lack of clarity and children being failed.
 
“I have bitten my tongue on many occasions to try to work with the Alliance Administration, despite my concerns.

"I am not willing to be silent while they damage children’s education. It is the most important and precious thing that we have. Teachers know that, parents know that.”

In June, a group of school leaders slammed what they called a 'significant lack of professionalism' from County Hall.

They had called for some primary schools to close, arguing there would be more than £850,000 in funding if there were no vacant reception places.

Cllr Jonathan Bacon, in charge of education at County Hall, said: "I have discussed with senior officers the assertion that we could have an additional £850,000 of funding this year.

"We simply cannot understand this claim, which could only be reality if there were more children in schools. We have no idea where the MP thinks these children might come from!"

Responding to Mr Seely's criticism, Cllr Bacon said: "If the MP had bothered to make contact with the council and myself, and discuss his concerns with the people dealing with those issues, it might help with addressing matters.

"Neither council officers nor myself were aware of the visit by the education secretary, despite the fact that a specific invitation and request to meet was sent earlier in the year by my predecessor, when we were aware Ms Keegan was planning to visit.

"I am more than aware of the concerns and issues in relation to education. Our key difficulty is the termination of our partnership with Hampshire County Council.

"This was a unilateral political decision made by that council. The decision has undermined any ability to deal with the issue of school places until we have our new management arrangements in place.

"Following discussion with senior officers, we have an outline plan, based very much on the gathering of knowledge, communication and engagement with all those affected by potentially momentous decisions.

"Matters are not helped by the politicising the situation."