Only half of secondary schools on the Isle of Wight rated good or better
The Island's primary schools are performing better with 75% rated good or above
The Isle of Wight Council’s children’s services will come under the spotlight this week, with figures showing only half of the Island’s secondary schools being graded good or better by Ofsted.
County Hall’s children’s services, education and skills committee (CSESC) will examine the operational and financial performance of the children’s services directorate – currently budgeted at over £40 million.
A 2024/25 performance report due to be presented to councillors on Thursday displays diverging outcomes for the Island’s mainstream primary and secondary schools.
Its most recent figures show 75.68 per cent of primary schools being graded good or better by Ofsted, compared to only 50 per cent of secondary schools.
Ofsted stopped using overall effectiveness grades as part of its inspection reports in September 2024.
Suspensions rates are also contrasted: 3.27 out of 100 pupils for primaries and 26.90 for secondaries.
The report notes ongoing high levels of need among children, young people and families ‘in common with experiences of children’s services teams across the country’.
“Requests for education, health and care plans remains high, with 96 requests during the summer term 2024/2025, this is lower than the number received in the spring term (156).
“As part of the 2025/26 budget strategy, an additional £4.1 million has been allocated to the children’s services department to address pressures identified during the budget-setting process.
“This includes funding for increased staffing needs associated with the ongoing reform of the social care system.
“The Children Looked After budget, which primarily funds homes for children in our care, remains the key driver behind the overspend in Children’s Services.
“This financial pressure has been impacted by a rise in the complexity of children’s needs, leading to increased placement costs and a decrease in the number of local authority foster carers.”
Education and health care plans are for children and young people aged up to 25 who require more support than is available through special educational needs support, according to the government.
They identify educational, health and social needs and lay out extra support to cater to those needs.
CSESC will meet at County Hall at 5pm on Thursday.