Mobile classrooms could be used at Gurnard Primary School, to provide more classroom space when pupils from the soon-to-be-closed Cowes Primary School transfer over.
A pair of ‘double mobile classroom’ buildings could be built to allow for ‘additional pupil places’.
County Hall has lodged plans to install a new prefabricated modular classroom building and a relocated modular classroom in a field to the south of Gurnard Primary School.
The proposal would ‘provide additional classroom facilities together with ancillary spaces such as toilets, cloakrooms and storage cupboards, to facilitate additional pupil places’, according to a council Design and Access Statement.
It says:
“On 12th December, the cabinet of the Isle of Wight Council approved the publication of a statutory proposal to close Cowes Primary School with effect from 31st August, 2025.
“From 1st September, 2025, the pupils remaining on roll at Cowes Primary School would be offered a place at Gurnard Primary School. Gurnard is the next nearest primary school and is 1.12 miles away by road.
“The local authority has reviewed the accommodation at Gurnard Primary School and deemed that additional modular accommodation would be required.
Article continues below this advertisement “We understand that concerns have been raised around the suitability of modular accommodation (previously referred to as mobile classrooms) however, they are designed and constructed to meet the same building codes and standards as traditional site-built structures.
“This includes regulations for structural integrity, fire safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency.”
The council’s public consultation on application 25/00586/FUL finishes on 8th August and a decision is expected on 1st September.
Pretty disgraceful really. The idea of closing the schools was sold to us by the Council as necessary due to a falling requirement for classroom spaces on the Island. Yet clearly, the spaces are still needed, they just want parents to commute their children further to get to school. I am old enough to remember “Temporary classrooms” being built in my day in a Newport Primary as a “stopgap”. My daughter was taught in those same portacabin classes 25 years later, and they were still in use 15 years after she left!
The problem is many of us believe what Governments
or Councils tell us.
From what I am always hearing or reading I believe
schools should close if nessecary, but maybe obviously
not.
The island is a different beast to the mainland, my grandchildren
go to school on the mainland and fortunately they don’t
have far to travel.
Portacabins don’t sound ideal.
This is a fairly typical conundrum created by the great minds of County Hall that will be of no benefit to the children or their parents. Cowes Primary is on a frequent bus route, is Gurnard?? Net result more car use. Perhaps somebody could answer a question please, who owns the land/buildings that contain Cowes Primary School? Just curious!
Perfect illustration of utter chaos and no one accountable for it at the Clowncil.