Campaigners are looking forward to Chillerton and Rookley Primary School flourishing again now that the axe has been lifted from over it.
On Monday night, the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for children’s education, Cllr Debbie Andre, announced the school will now not be amalgamating with Godshill.
The school had been facing the threat of closure after its running body, the Stenbury Federation, asked the council to amalgamate the two schools citing a lack of pupils and rising costs.
A council report, from January, says the school was forecasting a deficit of £93,699 in the last financial year (2021/22) and that in October, only 21 pupils were on roll at the school.
Speaking in March 2021, Chillerton and Rookley headteacher, Mark Snow, told a public meeting the school ‘needed bums on seats’ but if they were not there it was difficult to manage with a budget that was shrinking by the day.
He said:
“It is not just about money, it is about the wellbeing of children but if the funding is not there, what can I do?”
At the end of last year, an Isle of Wight Council consultation found 32 per cent of respondents preferred the amalgamation of schools by closing Chillerton but 25 per cent preferred a free school or academy secured as a sponsor.
Now, Cllr Andre has said she asked officers to ensure the school is well supported moving forward and to investigate options for how the council can support smaller primary schools so they can be sustained during periods of falling numbers and financial challenges.
Reacting to the news, Save Our School spokesperson, Keith Herbert said they were absolutely delighted with the outcome and their thanks went out to everyone who helped.
He said:
“Very few places have such a strong community backing and the school was saved by so many people offering their help from education professionals, Ofsted inspectors, lawyers, union officials, parents and children.
“I would also like to say a special thank you to Cllr Andre, who genuinely listened to our concerns and has given a bright future to rural schools on the Isle of Wight.”
Central Rural councillor, Suzie Ellis, said she was pleased an announcement had been made on the school’s future and welcomed any initiative that would see high quality and sustainable education delivered locally.
She looked forward to hearing Cllr Andre’s detailed proposals for delivery, given the increasing number of surplus primary places across the Island.
Diana Barker, Stenbury Foundation chair of governors, said now the decision over the immediate future of the Stenbury schools had been made, governors and leaders were planning for September to ensure they had staffing and structures in place for all the children.
She said staff had worked tirelessly over the last couple of years to keep both schools running, dealing with Covid, and they are a credit to their community.
She said they will continue to focus on delivering high-quality education for their children.
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