The Isle of Wight Council is pushing on with the closure of 5 local primary schools, despite the controversy surrounding the matter, and will bring down the axe in just a week’s time.
After a further public consultation on school places, which ended on 3rd February, a report published yesterday (Wednesday) recommends the closure of Arreton, Brading, Cowes, Oakfield and Wroxall Primary Schools to tackle more than 2,300 empty primary school places across the Isle of Wight.
It is also proposed that a 12-place primary resources provision for children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) be created at The Bay CE School (Primary).
This is despite the fact that closing the 5 schools could cost the Council a whopping £3million, including redundancy costs, empty property costs and Home to School transport – with a further £473,000 to be spent in 2026/27. It’s understood up to 153 teachers and support staff could lose their jobs.
The proposals will be discussed by Cabinet – and a final decision made – at a meeting next Thursday (6th March).
But the schools are not going down without a fight…
As previously reported by Island Echo, the Diocese of Portsmouth has begun a formal challenge against the closures of the schools. It has urged the Isle of Wight Council to start the consultation process again or face possible legal action. The Diocese argues that the Council has not carried out a fair and reasonable process in identifying Arreton, Brading and Oakfield Primary Schools for closure.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for children’s services, said:
“Nobody proposes the closure of a school lightly, but the number of births on the Island has now reached its lowest level since 1941.
“In 2028, only 890 children will start reception, 514 fewer than started in September 2018. The overall number of primary pupils is forecast to decrease from 9,300 in 2017 to 7,640 in 2027 — the second largest decrease in pupil numbers across the country.
“Our goal is to provide schools that deliver high-quality education and are financially sustainable. While some surplus places provide flexibility, too many can severely impact schools’ finances.
“Schools are funded based on pupil numbers, and fewer pupils mean less funding. For primary schools in 2025/26, this equates to about £4,887 per child per year. If a class with a capacity for 30 pupils only has 20, this results in a potential loss of £48,870 per year.
“The current number of primary school places is unsustainable, leading to inefficient use of resources. By reallocating these resources, we can better focus on improving educational outcomes for local children.
“The council must consider the needs of the children, both now and in the future, when making its final decision on how to address the oversupply of places.
“Our children are the future, and we need a workforce that can adapt and innovate. A high-quality education is essential for building a better future.
“The recommendations in this report offer the best chance for long-term educational improvement and financial stability for schools.”
Public consultation means this is what is happening.
The public don’t have a say, Governments and
Councils always DO what they want to do,
they just say different.
Take for example the pre election talk by
Labour. Council tax will not go up.
WHY THE FCUK IS IT GOING UP BY 5% THEN!!
Lies followed by more lies.
It it means the greedy B’stards won’t keep
increasing our Council tax.
Then close them ASAP
Me, me, me, me, me. Have you actually read the article? Your obsession with closing schools is beyond weird
So what, we keep schools open with too many
empty classrooms, don’t be a Numpty all your
life.
Your only word. Stop being so rude, old man of little intelligence
I wonder I wonder why the birth rate is falling .Nothing to do with councils past and present failing to address housing and jobs so as to make it viable for our young to stay and make a life here. I dread to think who is going to look after the next generation of old folk because there wont be any body here of working age.
I thought I read somewhere that the birth rate was
falling because of the Vaccines.
The Sun maybe? Daily Sport?
No real news on YouTube, not state controlled
Newspapers.
Get ready for your next jab
Lol
Oh hallelujah, someone with sense and insight. And also not being addressed is if by some miracle this gov’t does manage to turn the fortunes of the young around, the birth rate in future years will go up again. Where will they be educated, cos you can bet they’ll sell off the premises.
It happens to the best
It won’t cost the council 3 million it’ll cost us as we get increased council tax for their phenomenal mistakes.
These dinosaurs need to go
, now more than ever before the ship really sinks .
My name will be on the top of the list. This island needs a complete make over of councillors that have the people and island at heart and not their own purse strings