School Closures Decision Provisionally Agreed Following Late Night Council Meeting

Friday, 13 December 2024 02:29

By Rufus Pickles LDR

A decision to shut five of six Isle of Wight primary schools earmarked for closure has been provisionally agreed, following a vote by County Hall’s cabinet last night (Thursday).

Isle of Wight Council leader Phil Jordan and six other cabinet members decided to press ahead with plans to close Cowes Primary School, Arreton St Georges CE Primary School, Brading CE Primary School, Wroxall Primary School and Oakfield CE Primary School.

The panel, including the cabinet member for children’s services, education and corporate functions Cllr Jonathan Bacon, decided not to go ahead with a recommendation to close Godshill Primary School which the gallery greeted with applause.

Towards the end of the heated, extended session, there were multiple instances of impassioned members of the public calling out from the council chamber gallery.

Due to a conflict of interest, cabinet member Cllr Paul Fuller chose not to attend the meeting.

Closure plans were presented in a report signed by Cllr Bacon and Ashley Whittaker, director of children’s services.

A closure date of August 31, 2025 is given for the listed schools.

The report said:

“The council is in the process of developing a new education strategy for the Island to improve educational outcomes for all children.

“A vital element of this emerging strategy, a draft version of which was published on 8 July 2024, is aligning the number of primary school places with the changing population size.

“Having a certain level of surplus places across our schools provides flexibility; allows for movement onto, and around the Island, and helps meet parental preference.

“However, the consequences of having too many surplus places can be severe.

“The main impact on schools of surplus places due to falling rolls is the resulting reduction in individual school income, which without a corresponding reduction in costs, results in a deterioration in the school’s overall finances.”

It also stated the ‘main principle’ of education provision is to provide schools with ‘high quality’ standards and which are ‘financially sustainable’ in the long term.

The recommendations approved this evening have provoked considerable opposition from concerned parents, campaigners and trade unionists over the last few months.

The council received three written petitions comprising 894 signatures and six online petitions with a total of 3771 signatures opposing the closures, according to Bacon and Whittaker’s report.

Disquiet has been expressed over the provision of faith education, longer commuting distances, financial difficulties, Island academy schools outside of the council’s control not being included in the process and effects on education staff, children with SEND and communities.

Defences of the performance of schools recommended for closure have also been made since the plans came to light.

The proposals will go to Full Council for debate and an indicative vote in January.

A final Cabinet meeting on the plans will be held in March.

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