With a “heavy heart”, a tiny Isle of Wight primary school has been given its final order to close.
Chillerton and Rookley Primary School will now shut its door for the final time at the end of December.
The Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet unanimously agreed to the school’s closure on December 31 — now less than seven weeks away.
Bacon: Explored other potential options
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, the new cabinet member for education, said the council ‘was where it was’ and they had looked for other potential options, but the decision was made to publish the closure notice.
It was previously said the council was ‘out of options’ when it came to Chillerton and Rookley.
After a consultation, the council considered the responses, of which the majority were in favour of closing the school and amalgamating it with Godshill.
Andre: This is the right decision
The former cabinet member for education, Councillor Debbie Andre said no one wanted to have to close the school and they had been through a long process but she “was of the right mind that this is the right decision”.
Fuller: A “heavy heart”
Councillor Paul Fuller said the closure of any school is with a “heavy heart” and while it was sad to lose a rural school, he hoped the move would help Godshill Primary grow.
He said pupil numbers were falling across the Island and they needed to “buckle up” for the issues they are going to be facing in the future.
Lack of teachers
Of the nine primary-age children that lived in the village, only two of them attended Chillerton and Rookley Primary School, but they have been taught, since January, in Godshill, due to a lack of teachers.
Criticism raised
The authority’s Alliance Administration has been criticised for the way it has handled school closures, being accused of ‘indecisions and gamesmanship’ and ‘appalling political decision-making’ by Chillerton and Rookley’s headteacher, Mark Snow.
Long-term financial troubles
The school has been having financial troubles for more than five years, currently standing at a deficit of £74,372, and was deemed ‘unviable’ by Mr Snow.
Island headteachers have been supportive of the move as it would lessen the burden on other primary schools.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
