In the first of our series on Isle of Wight Middle Schools, Island Echo examines Osborne Middle School – 1 of 16 middle schools on the Island for 40 years from the early 1970s. All Isle of Wight Middle Schools closed their doors on 21st July 2011, and education returned to a 2-tier system. However, education on the Island has declined since the closure of our middle schools – which catered for the 9 to 13 age bracket – with results now sadly being the worst in England. By 2013, educational outcomes on the Island were so poor that Hampshire Council were given responsibility for the schools. However – 10 years later – little has improved. Were the previous 3-tiers of primary, middle, and secondary a superior system? Osborne Middle School opened its doors in September 1973. The new building on Beatrice Avenue had yet to be completed. Therefore, the school’s initial intake were taught in old school buildings at Osborne Road – built in 1838 at a cost of £308 (£28,000 in today’s values). Part of inaugural intake of Osborne Middle School at Osborne Road School (1973) The new building was completed by January of the following year at a cost of £161,000 (close to £1.5million pounds in today’s values). At that time, a new 3-bedroomed house could be bought for £3,000 and a newly qualified teacher earned just £900 a year. According to a local newspaper report:
“The school breaks new ground, representing the latest advances in educational and architectural thinking, and up to the minute construction techniques.”
Osborne Middle science lesson The new building was said to embody specialist facilities for home economics, art, crafts, pottery, science and the humanities. The 1st computers came to the school in 1982. Osborne Middle School was well endowed with sporting facilities: there were cricket, football and hockey pitches, a running track, and long and high jump pits. There were also tennis, netball and basketball facilities on hard-playing surfaces. Osborne Middle School Football Champions (1975) Teachers: Mr Hendy and Mr Davies (head) Back row: Spencer Jones, Phillip Healy, Gary Collins, Martin Butler, Kevin Fearnley, Phillip Bryce Front row: Derek Beath, Martin Wray, Ross Groves, Gareth Hayles, ‘Buster’ Whiten, Andrew Catlow, Melvyn RichardsOsborne Middle Girls Netball (1996) Osborne Middle School was officially opened in March 1974 by Richard Duke of Gloucester – making his first visit to the Island – accompanied by the-then Governor of the Isle of Wight, Lord Louis Mountbatten. At the opening ceremony, the Duke of Gloucester said:
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“To most children, a school is just a place which has existed for years and years and to which they are sent. Here it is different. They have shiny new school, transformed from a muddy site into these fine buildings.”
Richard, Duke of Gloucester (left) with headmaster Mr Davies (right) and Earl Mountbatten in the background. Osborne Middle School pupils were not confined to the school, and many went far further afield. Study trips were arranged (for example) to Parkhurst Forest and Shorwell on the Isle of Wight, to the Brecon Beacons in Wales, and the Isle of Arran in Scotland. A further memorable school outing was to Wembley Stadium in 1996. A multitude of extracurricular activities were arranged by the school . For example, Osborne Middle would compete in the Global Junior Rock challenge. Osborne Middle School trip to Brecon BeaconsVisit to Wembley Stadium (1996) Most former students of the school had happy memories of the time they spent there. 1 member of the Facebook group ‘I grew up in East Cowes’ wrote:
“’84 – ’87. Mr Riley, great teacher. Mr Jones. Cooking dinner for the Mayor. Fantastic school discos. Great football team. Loved that school.”
Another ex-pupil added:
“Mr Riley, I adored him. Mr Cooper, very cheeky smile, come on the Brecon Beacons trip. Very funny memories, would love to hear the teacher’s stories! Best school, great teachers.”
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A third commented:
“I remember Greenleigh village with Mr Cooper – he gave me my love of history. So many athletics competitions with Mr Bailie. School discos getting high off of sugar and glitter! It was such an amazing school with awesome teachers!”
Osborne Middle Harvest Festival 1983 In 2011, Osborne Middle School was no more, and the building on Beatrice Avenue became Queensgate Primary. It has subsequently been rebuilt. After the school closed, an unfortunate accident with the letters of the school name (or a prankster) had the name of the school altered – Fawlty Towers style – from ‘Osborne Middle’ to ‘Borne Iddle’: Osborne Middle (Borne Iddle) Was the demise of the former middle schools a catastrophic mistake for Isle of Wight Middle Schools? Did you go to Osborne Middle? Do you have any memories to share? Let us know in the comments… Article written with the kind assistance of East Cowes Heritage Centre (8 Clarence Road), which supplied all images. The centre is open 10:00 to 13:00, Monday to Saturday and has numerous historic images and information about former schools in the town.Osborne Middle Football TeamOsborne Middle School at Global Junior Rock Challenge (2005)
I went to high school with most if not all of the football team
Wolf
2 years ago
They should never have got rid of the middle schools.
I,v,y s,e,a,r,l,e
2 years ago
I must say, I rarely find anything to truly laugh about on the informative but often grim news articles on here, but the “BORN IDDLE” photo was hilarious, as was the comment that it ‘may’ have been an accident OR prankster.
Despite education in our school children being extremely low, at least humour remains, a real British trait.
Surprised old photos weren’t air brushed to keep up the modern pretence that our population has always been as mixed as it is now, but so lovely to see faces us older people remember filling our class rooms, seems a world away in a frightening short space of time.
Interesting articles and thanks for the rare laugh.
dogbot
2 years ago
Not quite relevent to this article but I went to the school in Osbourne road in 1951 when it had just changed name from the Building School to the Technical School (incorpoated engineering). Now that really was a good school where you could learn a trade as well as get academic qualifications.
OMS
2 years ago
If the photo for the school trip to Wales was in 2002 then I’m about 12 years younger than I thought! That trip was about 1989/1990. Happy days!
Luke
2 years ago
I went to Osborne middle from 2007-2011 and I made some amazing friends there and I remember Mr Morgan ICT teacher and Mr Cooper too from Greenleigh village
Wayne Nunn
2 years ago
I was part of the inaugural year and remember the official opening well. Also remember most of the football team. I remember Mr Hendy. My teacher was Mrs Nash – she was lovely.
In the first of our series on Isle of Wight Middle Schools, Island Echo examines Osborne Middle School – 1 of 16 middle schools on the Island for 40 years from the early 1970s. All Isle of Wight Middle Schools closed their doors on 21st July 2011, and education returned to a 2-tier system. However, education on the Island has declined since the closure of our middle schools – which catered for the 9 to 13 age bracket – with results now sadly being the worst in England. By 2013, educational outcomes on the Island were so poor that Hampshire Council were given responsibility for the schools. However – 10 years later – little has improved. Were the previous 3-tiers of primary, middle, and secondary a superior system? Osborne Middle School opened its doors in September 1973. The new building on Beatrice Avenue had yet to be completed. Therefore, the school’s initial intake were taught in old school buildings at Osborne Road – built in 1838 at a cost of £308 (£28,000 in today’s values). 
I went to high school with most if not all of the football team
They should never have got rid of the middle schools.
I must say, I rarely find anything to truly laugh about on the informative but often grim news articles on here, but the “BORN IDDLE” photo was hilarious, as was the comment that it ‘may’ have been an accident OR prankster.
Despite education in our school children being extremely low, at least humour remains, a real British trait.
Surprised old photos weren’t air brushed to keep up the modern pretence that our population has always been as mixed as it is now, but so lovely to see faces us older people remember filling our class rooms, seems a world away in a frightening short space of time.
Interesting articles and thanks for the rare laugh.
Not quite relevent to this article but I went to the school in Osbourne road in 1951 when it had just changed name from the Building School to the Technical School (incorpoated engineering). Now that really was a good school where you could learn a trade as well as get academic qualifications.
If the photo for the school trip to Wales was in 2002 then I’m about 12 years younger than I thought! That trip was about 1989/1990. Happy days!
I went to Osborne middle from 2007-2011 and I made some amazing friends there and I remember Mr Morgan ICT teacher and Mr Cooper too from Greenleigh village
I was part of the inaugural year and remember the official opening well. Also remember most of the football team. I remember Mr Hendy. My teacher was Mrs Nash – she was lovely.