Any decision to close the school by Cabinet next Thursday (9 January) will be subject to the governing body of Yarmouth Primary School taking a decision to relocate their school
West and Central Labour Party say what both Hampshire and Isle of Wight Council have failed to understand is the value of a local village school and its importance to the local community.
Some parents of pupils at All Saints’ Primary tested the proposed journey to school they would have to take if the Isle of Wight Council closes their school. See photos and videos within.
Local councillor, Daniel James, said the West Wight deserves much more support from the Isle of Wight council who he believes should go back to basics and properly support rural Island schools.
Parents protesting last night accused Isle of Wight council officers of ‘fudging the figures’, and said the school was ninth out of 44 schools for improvement on the Island, and was ranked second out of all schools on the Island for Key Stage 2 performance.
One of the parish councillors for Freshwater says the "rejection looks orchestrated" and is "deeply concerning to those of us who live in the West Wight".
Julian Critchley from Island Labour says, "the Council should really have learned lessons from the previous attempt to close Sandown Bay Academy; communities know that schools are more than just bricks and mortar."
Cllr Medland has called into question the process of how the Isle of Wight council proposed to close All Saints' Primary School in Freshwater. He said the "policy is riddled with contradictions", with "no central strategic sense or awareness of the role of public services".