ISLE OF WIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOLS: SOLENT – THE FINAL ISLE OF WIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL TO BE OFFICIALLY OPENED

In the 3rd edition of Isle of Wight Middle Schools, Island Echo examines Solent Middle: the school located on the exclusive Baring Road in Cowes. Solent Middle School was the final Isle of Wight Middle School to be officially opened on 2nd May 1975 – the neighbouring Somerton was the 1st. However, the school had already been operating for 3 years when the ‘official’ opening by then Minister of Education Reg Prentice took place. Solent’s 1st headmaster – Mr D. E. Way – took it upon himself to open the school early on 4th September 1972. At that point, the school was teaching just 2 year groups and had 198 pupils and 31 staff. The school cost £230,000 to complete (£2,623,000 in today’s values). The building was designed by County Architect Mr. R. Smith and built by Riddett Building Contractors of Shanklin. Most sub-contractors were Island-based firms. Solent Middle was built to serve the western part of Cowes, the villages of Gurnard, Northwood and Porchfield, as well as the rural area as far as Newtown.

The building was designed on the ‘open-plan’ method, in which the classrooms could be changed at any times by means of moveable screens, partitions and curtains. It included a spacious central hall with gymnasium facilities, which could also be used for assemblies, music and drama. Outside, there were playing fields on a 9-acre site, with facilities for football, hockey, athletics and field events. There were also hard surface facilities for tennis, netball and basketball.

Secretary of State for Education and Science, Mr Reg Prentice, said at the official opening:

“I am very impressed by what I have seen on the Isle of Wight, and the way in which the 3-tier system of comprehensive education was adopted by the IW County Council. It was an example to the rest of the country, with the changeover from a selective secondary system going well without the frantic fuss and arguments that still went on in other places. “I congratulate all who had any part in the planning and building of this school. A lot of care and thought went into the design and planning, and the result gives staff every opportunity to do a 1st class job and every boy and girl the chance to get the very best out of their education.”

Dignitaries at the opening ceremony included Stephen Ross MP and Rear Admiral Blackham. A concert was performed by the school orchestra. The building was dedicated by the Isle of Wight Archdeacon, the Ven R V Scruby. At the end of the ceremony, a plaque was presented by the Captain of the Royal Navy Minesweeper, M Penney.

As well as headteacher Mr Way, other well-known members of staff included Mrs R Harman, Mrs J Glasby and Mr W Jacobs (who went on to become headmaster). By 1983, Solent had expanded to 347 pupils, divided into 4 year groups. In 1984, Mr Jacobs became headteacher, followed by David Stradling in 1992. There were also 2 temporary headteachers during this time: Mr A Temel (1983) and Mr Sykes (1991).

Other notable teachers former students may remember from the early years of Solent Middle include Mr Fessey, Mrs Jackson, Mr Barnett, Mrs Hussey, Mr Cunningham, Mrs Rudd, Mr and Mrs Hawtin and Mr Frost. In July 1997, Solent Middle celebrated its Golden Jubilee. Several events were held to commemorate the occasion. These included a Silver Jubilee Concert, and the reopening of the School Library by the 1st headmaster, Mr Donald Way.

The Silver Jubilee celebrations were launched by a visit of a helicopter from the Cabair College of Air Training. The pilot gave a talk to Solent Middle School pupils and was interviewed by the school’s Solent on air radio station. Solent Middle School was very successful in putting on drama productions. The stage actress Laura Michel Kelly – who starred as Mary Poppins in a West End production – began acting in the school’s production of Bugsy Malone. The Middle School on Baring Road has also achieved some sporting success. Birmingham City, Derby County, Stoke City and Millwall manager Gary Rowett was a former pupil, who played with distinction for the school side.

Sadly, in 2011, the education system on the Isle of Wight underwent a transition from a 3-tier system to a 2-tier one. The Middle Schools – including Solent Middle – closed their doors on 21st July of that year. Gurnard Primary  – for children aged between 4 to 11 – was then moved onto the Baring Road site. Did you go to Solent Middle School? Did you appear in any drama productions or in the school Orchestra? Did you play in any of the sports teams? Were you happy there? Let us know in the comments… Photos and information for the article provided by Cowes Heritage Centre, Beckford Road, Cowes.