Is the Isle of Wight an "inbred, poor, white ghetto'?
Discussion
Mum and dad retired to IOW ten years ago. Live in Bembridge - which is lovely, nice little habour...friendly village etc.
They have heard tales of people that live on the island that have never been to mainland...however these are very old folk.
Schools started running regular trips to ensure that youngsters from deprived families do get to the mainland.
A couple of their neighbours work in London - long commute!
The ferry is expensive but you can get a discount as a local. Think it's 20%
However, the price does put you off. When I lived in UK if you thought well we'll pop down to see them this weekend you could be looking at £70 for two of you plus car! Cheaper to fly to Amsterdam (a regular trip for me at the time) Booking in advance is cheaper of course.
They have heard tales of people that live on the island that have never been to mainland...however these are very old folk.
Schools started running regular trips to ensure that youngsters from deprived families do get to the mainland.
A couple of their neighbours work in London - long commute!
The ferry is expensive but you can get a discount as a local. Think it's 20%
However, the price does put you off. When I lived in UK if you thought well we'll pop down to see them this weekend you could be looking at £70 for two of you plus car! Cheaper to fly to Amsterdam (a regular trip for me at the time) Booking in advance is cheaper of course.
jdw100 said:
Mum and dad retired to IOW ten years ago. Live in Bembridge - which is lovely, nice little habour...friendly village etc.
Very similar here, my folks moved there 16 years ago, and I ended up living there for 5 years after Uni. I only left because after being made redundant I had the money to make the move back to the mainland and a better life. There are things I miss about the Island, surfing and mountain biking on the west wight, but its balanced against the bad bits. Poor jobs market, expensive ferry trips and an Island Leadership that cares more about tourists than its rate payers.Wacky Racer said:
Most of North Yorkshire is lovely.
God's own country.
All of North Yorkshire is lovely, even the scummy inbred bits.God's own country.
We had several holidays on the IOW when I was growing up in the late 80's.
It was lovely - we always stayed in Shanklin which to my memory was a lovely town - you could walk along the coastal path to Sandown if you wanted to visit the arcades or the theme park.
Used to love it and would like to go back for a visit.
It was lovely - we always stayed in Shanklin which to my memory was a lovely town - you could walk along the coastal path to Sandown if you wanted to visit the arcades or the theme park.
Used to love it and would like to go back for a visit.
Wobbegong said:
GreatGranny said:
B'stard Child said:
I went to Brighton at the weekend - couldn't believe the house prices and the state of the place in some areas..... To me the two did not equate!!
Most overrated place in the UK IMO.Expensive for everything, no where to park, crap beach and populated by some of the most pretentious people on earth.
And breath....
Hi
We have lived on the Isle of Wight for 16 years. We moved here for work and I have held senior management positions in a couple of specialist engineering firms on the island. We moved in our mid twenties (from Leeds) and have absolutely fell in love with the island. We are fortunate because we have (had) the disposable income to enjoy life here (great restaurants, festivals with the best live music, car clubs, something on every weekend (for six months....), walking, cycling, outdoor sports etc. etc.)
We now have two kids and so the comments made are really unhelpful to the island.
The chairman of OFSTED does have a real problem with education on the island (and many coastal towns). The racist slur (can you imagine him making the same comment about Wandsworth and replacing white with black?) does nothing to help the education system here. So instead of offering solutions he simply slings mud at the problem.
I want him to resign or offer some genuine help/ guidance/ financial support to coastal communities.
There are a couple of things happening on the island to help (none of which is supported financially by central government...)
1. The home education network is growing. My wife has stopped work to help educate our kids on top of what is offered within the local schools. Ryde School (private) is also an extremely successful school (which we may consider an option too if we can afford it!)
2. Several retirees are helping schools directly ... offering financial and support to the board of governors. This experience from other communities really can have a positive effect.
As for the posters on this thread who agree with the chairman - I despair. What education have you had??
Inbreeding on the island was an issue but it was 40 years ago. The jokes about Wroxall and Totland still exist.....but obviously this still permeate the minds of the dinosaurs within the education system.
Unemployment is high, wages are low, ferry costs are high, educational standards are low, drugs are an issue (no more so than inner cities IMO), property is not overtly expensive (compared to the rest of the SE or even Portsmouth/ Southampton). But life is really good here and I would not wish to live anywhere else.....
We have lived on the Isle of Wight for 16 years. We moved here for work and I have held senior management positions in a couple of specialist engineering firms on the island. We moved in our mid twenties (from Leeds) and have absolutely fell in love with the island. We are fortunate because we have (had) the disposable income to enjoy life here (great restaurants, festivals with the best live music, car clubs, something on every weekend (for six months....), walking, cycling, outdoor sports etc. etc.)
We now have two kids and so the comments made are really unhelpful to the island.
The chairman of OFSTED does have a real problem with education on the island (and many coastal towns). The racist slur (can you imagine him making the same comment about Wandsworth and replacing white with black?) does nothing to help the education system here. So instead of offering solutions he simply slings mud at the problem.
I want him to resign or offer some genuine help/ guidance/ financial support to coastal communities.
There are a couple of things happening on the island to help (none of which is supported financially by central government...)
1. The home education network is growing. My wife has stopped work to help educate our kids on top of what is offered within the local schools. Ryde School (private) is also an extremely successful school (which we may consider an option too if we can afford it!)
2. Several retirees are helping schools directly ... offering financial and support to the board of governors. This experience from other communities really can have a positive effect.
As for the posters on this thread who agree with the chairman - I despair. What education have you had??
Inbreeding on the island was an issue but it was 40 years ago. The jokes about Wroxall and Totland still exist.....but obviously this still permeate the minds of the dinosaurs within the education system.
Unemployment is high, wages are low, ferry costs are high, educational standards are low, drugs are an issue (no more so than inner cities IMO), property is not overtly expensive (compared to the rest of the SE or even Portsmouth/ Southampton). But life is really good here and I would not wish to live anywhere else.....
There was an argument at a training centre between rural and urban sergeants about who was the busier. In came a chap from Hants with the crime figures for a wet weekend in February: three pints of milk and a cockerel. Hilarious of course, but the positives of such a low crime rate are significant.
mike9009 said:
The chairman of OFSTED does have a real problem with education on the island
mike9009 said:
The racist slur
Rather than racist, I'd call it descriptive. It is accurate and not derogatory.mike9009 said:
I want him to resign or offer some genuine help/ guidance/ financial support to coastal communities.
If he resigns I presume you'd like him replaced with someone who would provide additional finance for your schools?mike9009 said:
As for the posters on this thread who agree with the chairman - I despair. What education have you had?
5 'A' levels and an engineering degree. What level of education would be necessary for someone's views to be worthwhile?mike9009 said:
Inbreeding on the island was an issue but it was 40 years ago.
Any genetic issues won't have magically gone away in the intervening period.mike9009 said:
educational standards are low
So Ofsted have a point?mike9009 said:
drugs are an issue (no more so than inner cities IMO)
But IoW isn't an inner city- why not compare yourselves like-for-like rather than against the worst we have to offer?mike9009 said:
property is not overtly expensive (compared to the rest of the SE or even Portsmouth/ Southampton).
And now you compare yourself with the top end when it suits you.mike9009 said:
But life is really good here and I would not wish to live anywhere else.....
You now work for the IoW tourist board AICMFP.Very well put Rovinghawk.
Being blind to the Islands issues and getting shirty just because someone pointed out the unpallatable truth helps no one. Least of all the kids who really need it (hint: not the families who can afford a stay at home Mum) on Pan estate.
DMN MSc.
Being blind to the Islands issues and getting shirty just because someone pointed out the unpallatable truth helps no one. Least of all the kids who really need it (hint: not the families who can afford a stay at home Mum) on Pan estate.
mike9009 said:
As for the posters on this thread who agree with the chairman - I despair. What education have you had??
Not one from the IOW, thankfully.DMN MSc.
Rovinghawk said:
dandarez said:
'IF' the Ofsted 'git' was correct in his crass assumption, WHY has he made a grovelling apology?
Because political correctness demands it, not because it's untrue.Regardless of whether it's true or not, 'inbred, poor, 'white' ghetto' really helps doesn't it?
Been there a few times.
Sandown must have been lovely in the 1960's &70's. Sadly it seems no property renovation has happened in all. The B@Bs we saw were so so tired. Boarded up windows on the promonade etc.
It's quirky too.
The beaches are lovely and it could be good there again with some TLC. Maybe BrEXIT will encourage more tourism and thus investment.
Sandown must have been lovely in the 1960's &70's. Sadly it seems no property renovation has happened in all. The B@Bs we saw were so so tired. Boarded up windows on the promonade etc.
It's quirky too.
The beaches are lovely and it could be good there again with some TLC. Maybe BrEXIT will encourage more tourism and thus investment.
mike9009 said:
Hi
We have lived on the Isle of Wight for 16 years. We moved here for work and I have held senior management positions in a couple of specialist engineering firms on the island. We moved in our mid twenties (from Leeds) and have absolutely fell in love with the island. We are fortunate because we have (had) the disposable income to enjoy life here (great restaurants, festivals with the best live music, car clubs, something on every weekend (for six months....), walking, cycling, outdoor sports etc. etc.)
We now have two kids and so the comments made are really unhelpful to the island.
The chairman of OFSTED does have a real problem with education on the island (and many coastal towns). The racist slur (can you imagine him making the same comment about Wandsworth and replacing white with black?) does nothing to help the education system here. So instead of offering solutions he simply slings mud at the problem.
I want him to resign or offer some genuine help/ guidance/ financial support to coastal communities.
There are a couple of things happening on the island to help (none of which is supported financially by central government...)
1. The home education network is growing. My wife has stopped work to help educate our kids on top of what is offered within the local schools. Ryde School (private) is also an extremely successful school (which we may consider an option too if we can afford it!)
2. Several retirees are helping schools directly ... offering financial and support to the board of governors. This experience from other communities really can have a positive effect.
As for the posters on this thread who agree with the chairman - I despair. What education have you had??
Inbreeding on the island was an issue but it was 40 years ago. The jokes about Wroxall and Totland still exist.....but obviously this still permeate the minds of the dinosaurs within the education system.
Unemployment is high, wages are low, ferry costs are high, educational standards are low, drugs are an issue (no more so than inner cities IMO), property is not overtly expensive (compared to the rest of the SE or even Portsmouth/ Southampton). But life is really good here and I would not wish to live anywhere else.....
Wandsworth is full of wealthy white people We have lived on the Isle of Wight for 16 years. We moved here for work and I have held senior management positions in a couple of specialist engineering firms on the island. We moved in our mid twenties (from Leeds) and have absolutely fell in love with the island. We are fortunate because we have (had) the disposable income to enjoy life here (great restaurants, festivals with the best live music, car clubs, something on every weekend (for six months....), walking, cycling, outdoor sports etc. etc.)
We now have two kids and so the comments made are really unhelpful to the island.
The chairman of OFSTED does have a real problem with education on the island (and many coastal towns). The racist slur (can you imagine him making the same comment about Wandsworth and replacing white with black?) does nothing to help the education system here. So instead of offering solutions he simply slings mud at the problem.
I want him to resign or offer some genuine help/ guidance/ financial support to coastal communities.
There are a couple of things happening on the island to help (none of which is supported financially by central government...)
1. The home education network is growing. My wife has stopped work to help educate our kids on top of what is offered within the local schools. Ryde School (private) is also an extremely successful school (which we may consider an option too if we can afford it!)
2. Several retirees are helping schools directly ... offering financial and support to the board of governors. This experience from other communities really can have a positive effect.
As for the posters on this thread who agree with the chairman - I despair. What education have you had??
Inbreeding on the island was an issue but it was 40 years ago. The jokes about Wroxall and Totland still exist.....but obviously this still permeate the minds of the dinosaurs within the education system.
Unemployment is high, wages are low, ferry costs are high, educational standards are low, drugs are an issue (no more so than inner cities IMO), property is not overtly expensive (compared to the rest of the SE or even Portsmouth/ Southampton). But life is really good here and I would not wish to live anywhere else.....
One thing about the IoW, it still holds one record that will never be surpassed.
It happened 46 years ago - in fact, it was this month to be exact.
It so upset those 'in power' that Parliament passed an Act to prevent it ever happening again. They do love 'control' don't they, people in authority and power.
That week all those years ago it was 'the people' who were in power. Lots of b
ks was written about it all. I know it was bks, because I was there!
It happened 46 years ago - in fact, it was this month to be exact.
It so upset those 'in power' that Parliament passed an Act to prevent it ever happening again. They do love 'control' don't they, people in authority and power.
That week all those years ago it was 'the people' who were in power. Lots of b
ks was written about it all. I know it was bks, because I was there!Wow. Really surprised about this; I was last there in April and I still think it's a pretty nice place. OK, it's not upmarket like some parts of Devon and Cornwall, but it's a far cry from other places further around our coastline. Yes, there are not so nice parts, but certainly not to the degree there are on the mainland.
I'm maybe over thinking but I get the impression there’s an expectation that everyone is or should be a super-moral, super-intelligent, super-sophisticated, person of the world. Many people out there are simple by outlook not necessarily intelligence - though obviously they are often both - and are happier with a more basic life away from big cities. These are the people described as 'little Englanders' but to me they are the backbone of the country.
I'm maybe over thinking but I get the impression there’s an expectation that everyone is or should be a super-moral, super-intelligent, super-sophisticated, person of the world. Many people out there are simple by outlook not necessarily intelligence - though obviously they are often both - and are happier with a more basic life away from big cities. These are the people described as 'little Englanders' but to me they are the backbone of the country.
dandarez said:
PC doesn't demand anything.
You're kidding, right?dandarez said:
Regardless of whether it's true or not, 'inbred, poor, 'white' ghetto' really helps doesn't it?
It doesn't help other than outlining a potential root cause of problems. If it's true (I see his point) then I don't see why it shouldn't be said.Rovinghawk said:
dandarez said:
PC doesn't demand anything.
You're kidding, right?dandarez said:
Regardless of whether it's true or not, 'inbred, poor, 'white' ghetto' really helps doesn't it?
It doesn't help other than outlining a potential root cause of problems. If it's true (I see his point) then I don't see why it shouldn't be said.No need for someone in his position, supposedly highly-educated (well, you cannot get more exclusive a private school than Marlborough College!) to say it in such a crass way.
As the OP said if it had been 'black' not 'white', PC would have demanded he fall on his sword. Wouldn't it?
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff