CLAIMS made by the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) that falling pupil numbers at Sandown Bay Academy make the troubled school 'unviable' have been dismissed as 'tosh and twaddle' by the Isle of Wight Council's education councillor.
Responding to yesterday's statement from AET that the school is 'not sustainable' and is 'unviable' due to falling pupil numbers, Cllr Chris Whitehouse today (Friday) said: "AET have based their calculations on the past reductions in pupil numbers, but we know from the data of the children in our primary schools that there are more than enough children in the area to sustain a good school on that site. What's more, the numbers are set to rise over the next few years. AET have used the wrong data and are talking tosh on pupil numbers".
He added: "When it comes to funding, AET are correct that money is largely dictated by pupil numbers, so if they've got the potential pupil numbers wrong, they've inevitably calculated the funds wrongly and are talking twaddle when they say the school is unviable."
Yesterday, Cllr Whitehouse handed a petition signed by hundreds of parents opposing plans to merge Ryde and Sandown Bay Academies to the boss of AET,Julian Drinkall.
The petition was presented to Mr Drinkall at a meeting at County Hall between AET and senior councillors.
Cllr Whitehouse said: "Education officers from Hampshire, who oversee the Island schools, are now urgently producing an options paper for the Leader of the Council, Cllr Dave Stewart, and me to consider, so that we can make good on our commitment that we will continue to deliver secondary education in Sandown on the Academy site."
Cllr Whitehouse has also encouraged parents to keep up the pressure and not to panic. He said: "We want AET out of Sandown Bay Academy. We've already identified at least four options for continuing secondary education on that site and will be exploring all avenues. I personally salute the campaign of students, parents and staff over the last week or so and encourage them not to lose heart or momentum.
"A good school in Sandown would have more than 1,000 students. There are plenty of schools that size around the country that are delivering good education and are perfectly financially viable."

According to AET, the school has 1,157 students on its roll.