A report recommending the future direction of primary school education in the West Wight will go before the Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet next week (11th July) – and it’s bad news for those supporting the future of a school in Yarmouth.
The local authority has to address the oversupply of school places in the area, with 5 schools currently catering for around 90 children per year group — a number which is expected to fall over the coming years.
To help address this, the West Wight School Places report is recommending that a public notice is published to:
– close All Saints’ CE Primary School in Freshwater from 3rd April 2020;
– expand Yarmouth CE Primary School;
– relocate Yarmouth CE Primary School to the All Saints’ site once new building works are completed there
The council said it made sense to propose the closure of a school that was operating with a significant surplus capacity (62%) and not currently offering a good standard of education, as adjudged by Ofsted.
The proposal is to issue the statutory notice to close All Saints’, which has been rated as ‘requires improvement‘ since 2013, and expand and, eventually relocate, Yarmouth Primary, which is rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.
Councillor Paul Brading, Cabinet member for children’s services, said:
“In terms of sensible planning for the location of the current schools, it makes sense to use the buildings closest to where the children live.
Article continues below this advertisement “Given only seven children attending Yarmouth actually live in the town and 69 live in Freshwater and Totland, it makes logical sense to propose the move to relocate Yarmouth CE Primary onto the All Saints’ site.
“It also makes the most sense strategically in terms of future proofing buildings as the All Saints’ site is due to receive a multi-million-pound investment from the Department for Education to substantially improve/replace the existing buildings. This can take place following closure and the temporary expansion at Yarmouth.”
Given that schools are largely funded on a per pupil basis, having one less school in West Wight would mean the remaining 4 are more financially sustainable and will have the resources needed to fund high quality teaching and learning for the children.
If approved by Cabinet on 11th July, a public notice on the recommendations will be published on Friday 19th July and people can make their views known through the statutory process.
The council has extended the public notice consultation period from four to nine weeks, closing on Friday 20th September to take account of the school summer holidays.
All the responses to the statutory notice will be considered fully by the Cabinet and it will make a final decision on Thursday 10th October 2019.
Councillor Brading added:
“Once the decision is finally made, we will work closely with parents and local schools to ensure the children can transition to their new school.
“We are confident all the schools will welcome any new children and will work hard to ensure they are fully integrated into the life of their new school.”
Vix Lowthion of Freshwater Parish Council – and Green Party Education Spokesperson – says:
“The loss of a primary school in Yarmouth will be deeply upsetting for the town. It is a popular school at the heart of the community and has been there for over a hundred years. No-one in the West Wight wants to see any of our schools closed – rural schools rightly have a degree of protection against closure. But Hampshire Education and our IW Council insist that the numbers of pupils and the funding just does not add up.
“In the longer term, investment in a 21st century school building in the large village of Freshwater is welcome, as for too long the West Wight has been ignored when it comes to updating our public services. However, in the short term there will be an immense amount of upheaval as pupils may need to be moved around sites, and this will cause a number of problems if not adequately planned for.
“This school closure will have a significant impact upon all the schools in the area. The IW Council must avoid the mistakes made in their woeful reorganisation of schools ten years ago. Teachers, governors, parents, councillors and the wider community must be closely involved in the planning and preparation – and a clear commitment made by the Council that a new school in Freshwater will open its doors by 2022.”
The report can be viewed via the council’s website at https://www.iow.gov.uk/Meetings/committees/cabinet/11-7-19/agenda.pdf?636977626787069390.
What a shame if they close the Yarmouth school. The lack of local pupils at this school shows how Yarmouth is unfortunately allowing outsiders to take over the properties in Yarmouth when they should be supporting local population. House prices are extortionate in this small town, way beyond the means of local families. I love walking past this school and noticing the happy children at play time. Reminds me of the happy times I had at my primary school in Weymouth. Yarmouth is unfortunately losing some of its old world charm. What with the old railway station being converted, new England style houses built (no doubt the school grounds will be converted for yet more unaffordable housing to the locals) etc. Old world atmosphere gradually eroding. Yarmouth should be preserved before it is ruined even more by outsiders, “diversity” interference and any other undesirable influences. Its a slice of old England, let’s keep it that way.