More than 2,300 school spaces were empty on the Isle of Wight last year, latest government figures have revealed.
In the recent release of the annual school capacity survey, 38 of the Island’s schools had space for more pupils.
In total, 12.6% of spaces — or 2,367 school pupils — 1,195 in primary and 1,172 in secondary —were unfilled.
Schools are allocated a certain amount of pupils they can cater for and then given funding accordingly.
The 7 Island schools with the highest amounts of unfilled places are:
- Chillerton and Rookley Primary – 44 of 78 spaces (56%)
- Brighstone C of E Primary – 92 of 207 spaces (44%)
- Oakfield C of E Primary – 165 of 420 spaces (39%)
- St Francis Catholic and C of E Primary – 90 of 315 spaces (28.5%)
- Newport C of E Primary – 110 of 405 spaces (27%)
- Cowes Enterprise College – 374 of 1,211 spaces (23.6%)
- Wroxall Primary – 38 of 168 spaces
The future of Chillerton and Rookley Primary School is currently hanging in the balance with the Isle of Wight Council once again deliberating the best course of action for the school.
Since the figures have been recorded, Cowes Enterprise College has reduced the number of pupils it accepts in a year. It reduced the yearly intake of students by 60, down to 210.
There are, however, 7 schools — all primaries — either at or over capacity in 2020/21.
At the top of that list, with an extra 35% of pupils enrolled over its capacity, is Yarmouth C of E Primary School which recently welcomed pupils from the now-closed All Saints C of E Primary in Freshwater. According to government statistics, Yarmouth Primary should only have 105 pupils enrolled at the school but in the latest count had 142 children attending — 37 extra.
The 7 Island primary schools over or at capacity are:
- Yarmouth C of E Primary – 37 children over-capacity (35%)
- St Saviours Catholic Primary – 12 children over-capacity (8.6%)
- Brading C of E Primary – Seven over-capacity (4.8%)
- Lanesend Primary – 15 children over-capacity (3.6%)
- Newchurch Primary – Five children over-capacity (2.4%)
- Dover Park Primary – Three children over-capacity (1.4%)
- Niton Primary School – at capacity.
The number of pupils has stayed roughly the same with 8,836 children in primary school in 20/21, compared to 8,834 in 18/19.
Pupil figures at secondary school have increased by nearly 50 from 7,528 in 18/19 to 7,577 in 20/21.
The fact that they build new bigger schools without the ‘demand’ being there is not always the smartest thing to do.
Plus it sadly sends a signal to central government that the Island needs more families, hence more housebuilding.
To many coffin dodgers…sad but true.
Less children in classrooms has to be a good thing surely. More time that teachers can spend with individuals who need extra teaching instead of trying to teach wokism.
It all boils down to money.
Less kids less money,
More kids more money.
Once the type who never leave a womb empty willing or not arrive the change will be clear for all to see and regret for the rest of time. This is the good time watch and learn
Wot you talking…white boy !
and so the propaganda of “look we have capacity everywhere” to justify the building of thousands of benefit hutches begins.