Date: 20th February 2003
Released by: ANDREW TURNER

Island schools have been a focus of MP Andrew Turner’s attention during the first ever parliamentary ‘half-term’ recess. During the week he visited Carisbrooke High School’s awards evening and four primary schools, with the particular intention of hearing from heads and staff how recent changes to education have affected them. But when he visited Northwood Primary School he got a surprise when he found himself answering questions from over 100 key stage 2 pupils [picture attached]. Mr Turner said,

“This was the first ever parliamentary half-term recess, introduced after the so-called modernization process. But fortunately it didn’t coincide with half-term on the IW – so I have taken the opportunity to visit five schools across the Island (East Cowes, Whippingham, Carisbrooke High, Northwood and Shanklin CE Primary). My particular intention was to hear from those who run our schools how recent changes in education funding and legislation have affected the way they provide education.

“There was a consensus that although funding had increased – to the extent that some teachers said money was no longer the issue – the bureaucracy affecting schools had also increased. Schools needed more freedom, and fewer constant changes of emphasis from central Government. Some teachers told me of their concern that inclusion of pupils with special needs disrupted the education of the majority and that mainstream schools were ill-equipped to meet such pupils’ needs.

“On the other hand all the schools offered an obviously caring and secure environment for youngsters, and pupils are enthusiastic and cheerful about learning.”

At Northwood Primary School, Mr Turner spoke to over a hundred key-stage 2 pupils, and answered their questions covering issues from the tax on crisps to the war in Iraq. Mr Turner said,

“If you take children seriously they take you seriously, and I was very impressed by the perceptiveness of the questions I was asked. We shouldn’t have any concerns about the future with youngsters like this!”