The clock is officially ticking on the future of an Isle of Wight primary school after a notice for its closure was published.
In just over 100 days, Chillerton and Rookley Primary School is proposed to shut, amalgamating with its fellow Stenbury Federation facility, Godshill Primary School.
The closure is due to come into force on 31st December, although objections can still be made.
The future of the primary school was first put under review in February 2022 but has since struggled to recruit teachers and bring pupils into the school.
Despite having the potential space to teach 91 pupils between the ages of 3 and 11, the school only has 8 children enrolled. They have all been taught at Godshill Primary since January due to there being no teacher at Chillerton.
The official notice says the closure is being proposed due to a significant decline in pupil numbers at the school in the past 5 years, with no reception pupils starting in September.
The lack of pupils has hit Chillerton and Rookley financially. Since April 2016, the school has had an unresolved deficit budget.
The Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet agreed to the course of action in July, with then cabinet member for education, Councillor Debbie Andre saying no one wanted to close a school but ‘despite doing everything to keep the school open, the Council has now run out of options’.
The public notice was published on Friday 15th September, starting a 6-week consultation period where anyone can object or make comments on the proposals which can be obtained from County Hall, in Newport.
Comments can also be sent to County Hall or via email to [email protected].
Soon to be followed by Wroxall school and others in years to come.
We have a perfectly good school at Chillerton and Rookley which the council could utilise for the great number of school children of all ages on the Island who have SEN / EHCP . It’s a quite location, small class rooms, and a very good stepping stone for the children who maybe feel confident in them selves to progress to high school.