Further information on proposals to close 6 Isle of Wight primary schools, reduce the size of 2 others and introduce new SEN provisions, including key dates to remember, has been released by the local authority.
Arreton, Brading, Cowes, Godshill, Oakfield and Wroxall primary schools could close their doors as soon as July 2025, as previously reported by Island Echo. It comes as the Isle of Wight Council aims to cut the number of surplus classroom places on the Island.
More detailed information on what the future of education on the Isle of Wight looks like is included below, broken down by each of the affected schools.
Under the plans…
Arreton – the school will close with pupils able to join Barton Primary in Newport, where existing and additional temporary accommodation will be utilised.
St George’s Nursery and Pre-School is to remain, with the option of expanding into part of the existing primary school.
Arreton will be used in the future for a new therapeutic high-anxiety mental health provision.
Brading – the school and pre-school will close with pupils able to join either St Helens Primary or The Bay, where existing and additional temporary accommodation will be utilised.
The school could be used in the future as a SEND provision, but this has not been finalised.
Brighstone – the school is to remain open with the creation of a 12-place provision for children with speech, communication and language needs (SCLN) and/or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
Cowes Primary – the school will close with pupils able to join Gurnard Primary, where additional temporary accommodation will be erected.
Blackberry Lane Pre-School will remain and offered the option of expanding into part of the existing primary school.
Godshill – the school and pre-school will close with pupils able to join either Niton Primary or St Francis Primary, where existing and additional temporary accommodation will be utilised.
Oakfield – the school and pre-school will close with pupils able to join either St Mary’s Catholic or Greenmount, where existing and additional temporary accommodation will be utilised.
Oakfield Primary will be transformed into a satellite site for Medina House as a specialist facility supporting primary school-aged children with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Greenmount – the school is to remain open, but the intake (Published Admissions Number) will be reduced from 60 pupils to 45 in September 2027.
The Bay – the school is to remain open, but the intake (Published Admissions Number) will be reduced from 60 pupils to 45 in September 2027.
A 12-place primary SEND provision is to also be created at The Bay for children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
Wroxall – the school and pre-school will close with pupils able to join St Francis Primary, where existing and additional temporary accommodation will be utilised.
Other schools considered for closure, but discounted, included Northwood Primary, Lanesend Primary and St Francis Catholic and Church of England Primary – but the local authority does not have the legal ability to propose the closure of an academy.
Key dates
• 20th September to 1st November 2024
– Consultation
• 12th December 2024
– Report on outcomes of consultation
– The council considers all responses before deciding what steps to take
• January to March 2025
– Official notices published where needed for each school, e.g. pupil admission number reductions, closures or expansions
– Comments on the proposals made
• March to April 2025
– Outcomes of statutory notices
– The council decides whether to implement or withdraw the notices for each school
• August to September 2025
– School amendments, expand admission numbers or closures implemented
The Isle of Wight Council says it hopes to, wherever possible, use school sites earmarked for closure for educational use moving forward.
Further information can be found at https://iow.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s15767/Appendix%202.pdf.
