Island Echo takes a look at Ventnor Middle School – which educated the Isle of Wight’s youngsters for 41 years between 1970 and 2011 – as part of our series on Isle of Wight Middle Schools.
Ventnor Middle was Ventnor Secondary Modern between 1956 and 1970. The building was completed 4 months ahead of schedule and officially opened on 3rd June 1956. It was designed by county architect F Booth at a cost of £146,950 (£3,125,000 in today’s values).
The builders responsible for the Ventnor school (Messrs Batty and Smith) had also been responsible for the construction of Cowes Secondary Modern and Sandown High Schools.
Ventnor Middle School occupied a site of 13 acres in a bowl in the hillside opposite what had been an RAF camp. Much planning was required to cope with its deeply sloping ground levels. Half a million bricks were used in its construction – all supplied by Island Bricks of Rookley.
A 45ft by 15ft outdoor swimming pool containing 20,000 gallons of water was built near the school at a cost of just £200. Originally, the school’s playing fields included 2 soccer and rugby pitches together with a running track. There were also plans for a cricket pitch.
Within the school, the assembly hall – which doubled as a dining area – could seat 490 pupils. The library – which had a roof garden – contained 2,000 books. There was a wireless receiver in the music room, which could relay recordings to every classroom.
Possibly the most memorable event in the history of Ventnor Middle School was a gale that ripped off the roof of the gymnasium on 26th February 1990. Roofing and lumps of concrete were said to have rained down on classroom windows for over an hour, as staff arranged the emergency evacuation of the 430 pupils.
Then headmaster Keith Morris witnessed the corner of roof lift from his office. Pupils on an upper floor of the school experienced debris hitting the widows of their classroom, causing their teacher to leave the room immediately. The headmaster then announced via the school tannoy system that all the top floors would be evacuated.
The children were moved into the library and the curtains on the windward side drawn. Transport was then arranged to take the schoolchildren home. There were no lessons for over a week.
After the event, the headmaster stated that there had been no work done on the roof – which had an expected lifespan of just 15 years – since the construction of the school in 1956. He added that leaks were a constant problem and that he had always expected part of the roof to go in high winds.
Mr Morris described the experience as frightening but was relieved no one had been in the gymnasium at the time, and that there weren’t any injuries.
Ventnor Middle School was reasonably successful academically. After the Isle of Wight Council had put the school under notice of closure, a 2008 Ofsted report judged the school as ‘good’ with some outstanding features. Pupils were said to have been able to reach above-average academic standards and develop into mature, well-rounded young people. They were also said to have thoroughly enjoyed school life.
What do former pupils remember of Ventnor Middle School and its teachers? Memories are generally happy ones, although many recall the ‘freezing’ swimming pool! Comments from former pupils have included:
“Fantastic school, great teachers and great memories.”
“Possibly the best school in the world.”
“Loved going to Ventnor Middle.”
PE teacher Jeff Green is especially fondly remembered by his former pupils:
“Jeff Green was unbelievable. What a guy. They just don’t make them like that anymore.
“His coaching was superb and the fact that we played in 2 cup finals in 1983/84 is something I’ll never forget.
“When we won, he told us he felt 8 feet tall. I think we all did as well.”
A pupil from the 70s recalls:
“Mr Patten was the head and Mrs Clarke was the Senior Mistress. He was lovely, and we were all scared sh**less of her.”
Sadly, after the ending of the 3-tier system on the Isle of Wight, Ventnor Middle was demolished – to be replaced by St Francis Catholic and Church of England Academy on the same site.
Did you go to Ventnor Middle School? Were you there when the roof blew off? Do you remember the ‘freezing’ outdoor pool? Let us know in the comments…
Thesedays we have flying cars that land on their roofs
I didn’t know schools had flying roofs.
“I know the island is different to the mainland”
I never forget speaking to an elderly Ventnor born and
bred lady over 30 years ago.
“She said funny things happen in October”
Lol
Funny things happen every day on the island.
Great story about the school though, keep the old stories
coming, makes a change from reading about druggies.
Great story hope next one will be about secondary modern at leeson Road which I left in 1955 couldn’t wait to start work with a new namet bag
“After the Isle of Wight Council had put the school under notice of closure, a 2008 Ofsted report judged the school as ‘good’ with some outstanding features. Pupils were said to have been able to reach above-average academic standards and develop into mature, well-rounded young people. They were also said to have thoroughly enjoyed school life.”
Well done IW Council – closing a good school.
Do any of the islands current schools get the same conclusion from Ofsted now?