Hampshire officers recommend closure of Carisbrooke College

Two weeks ago, OnTheWight ran a report on the outcomes of the school consultation into 11-16 year old and post-16 provision on the Isle of Wight.

Today (Tuesday) the council have released papers for next week’s Executive and full council meetings, which contain the recommendations made by Hampshire County Council officers (who are responsible for children’s services on the Isle of Wight) on the future of school provision on the Isle of Wight.

The recommendation
It is recommended to the Executive:

That Medina College and Carisbrooke College merge on the Medina site in accordance with Option 2b of the 11-16 consultation.
That statutory consultation on the closure of Carisbrooke College with effect from 31 August 2017 be authorised to take place in September and October 2015.
That a report on the outcome of that statutory consultation be brought to Executive at its meeting on 8 December 2015.
That the future distribution of post-16 A-Level provision as outlined in paragraph 101 (as set out below) is approved.
- Medina and Carisbrooke colleges’ joint post-16 provision to be retained on the Node Hill site;
- Christ the King College’s post-16 provision to be retained;
- Isle of Wight College post-16 A-level provision to be retained;
- in the short term Ryde and Sandown Bay academies’ post-16 provision to be retained on both sites until such time as new post-16 provision for 350 learners on the Sandown Bay site to serve both schools is ready for occupation, leading to a shared sixth form between the two.
That the Department for Education’s Education Funding Agency be advised to proceed with the Priority School Building Programme projects to create a 10fe 11-16 school for Ryde Academy, a 9fe 11-16 school for Christ the King College and a 8fe 11-16 school for Sandown Bay Academy together with post-16 provision for 350 learners.
That a report setting out the framework and timescales for the Priority School Building Programme projects at Ryde Academy, Christ the King College and Sandown Bay Academy be brought to Executive.
If the Executive is minded to prefer Option 1 of the consultation they are reminded that for this option to attract capital investment in Carisbrooke or Medina sites would require a satisfactory business case to support its sustainability.