By Isle of Wight Observer
The Isle of Wight Council has announced major plans to transform education across the Island, which include the controversial closure of schools
The council is planning to consult on the closure of six primary schools due to an oversupply of places, which they say has negatively impacted the standard of education. At the same time, the council is focusing on repurposing the sites to improve the quality and breadth of educational provision.
The primary schools slated for potential closure are Cowes, Arreton CE, Oakfield CE, Brading CE, Wroxall, and Godshill with The Bay CE School and Greenmount reducing in size.
While acknowledging the impact of the proposed closures the council is keen to stress that the closures are part of a strategy to address falling birth rates and numbers of primary-school-aged children. By 2027, only 876 children are expected to start reception, in 2018 it was 1,404. This has led to nearly 1,900 unfilled school places as of October 2023, with the number projected to rise to 3,056 by September 2027.
The financial impact of these empty seats is stark, and potentially leads to budget deficits for 22 out of the 39 current primary schools by March 2027.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, cabinet member for children’s services, emphasized that the council’s new education department is focused solely on Island children. He said, “Our results are extremely poor in comparison to other areas and have been for many years. We must do better. The first step is to acknowledge the problem.” He also highlighted his belief that reducing school places would minimise the long-term negative impact on education.
The council’s vision, as outlined in the draft of the Island’s new Education Strategy published in July, aims for all children on the Island to be equipped with the skills and aspirations to access opportunities of their choice by 2030.
The proposed closures are part of this broader strategy, which also includes repurposing five of the sites to provide specialist Special Educational Need (SEN) provision and teacher training facilities. For instance, the Arreton site could be transformed into a dedicated facility for children with high anxiety and mental health needs. Oakfield may become a satellite site for special school, Medina House special school, with a focus on supporting primary-aged children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs.
The council is also planning to create additional SEN places over the next 18 months, including at St George’s, and has expanded specialist provision at Greenmount to meet the needs of children with Autism Spectrum Condition and Speech Language Communication Needs. Proposals for new SEN provisions at The Bay CE and Brighstone CE could also be in the pipeline.
The council’s Cabinet will consider the report at a meeting on next Thursday. If approved, a comprehensive consultation will follow from September 20 until November 1, allowing stakeholders to comment on the proposals. Councillors will review the responses in December and decide whether to implement the changes by September 2025. The final decision will be made after a further six-week comment period following the publication of official notices.
Ashley Whittaker, the council’s director of children’s education, highlighted the importance of adapting education provision to reflect changing demographics and needs. He said, “Complex and difficult decisions are essential to establish the foundations required to deliver a high performing education system and to improve education outcomes and wider life chances for all children.”
Parents, local community members, and education stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the consultation process and share their views to shape the future of education on the Isle of Wight