The Isle of Wight has “too many” primary schools and there will need to be closures, the chair of the new Children’s Services, Education and Skills Committee has warned.
Conservative deputy group leader Paul Brading described the Island’s falling birth rate and pupil numbers as having a “massive impact” on school finances.
His comments come after County Hall transitioned to a new committee governance model, replacing its former cabinet system.
The Children’s Services, Education and Skills Committee holds responsibility for issues such as school standards and improvement, school place planning and admissions, SEND provision and child and adolescent mental health services.
Brading: “Schools, really, have to close”
Councillor Brading said,
“We have got too many primary schools on the Island – I started to address the issue in the West Wight in my previous (education) cabinet position where we looked at the schools in the West Wight and we managed to reduce them from five to four and all those schools are now sustainable.
“The falling birth rate and falling pupil numbers have a massive impact on the finances of schools and when schools are under financial pressure, they’re having to make some really serious financial decisions, restructuring exercises.
“All that uncertainty and change in my view is affecting the standards of education on the Island and that has to be addressed and corrected.
“Schools, really, have to close.”
The representative for Lake South served as the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills between 2017 and 2021.
In the role, he oversaw the closure of the Yarmouth Primary school site, and the relocation of Yarmouth Primary to Freshwater following the closure of All Saints Primary – which saw a £4.5 million fit-for-purpose school built on the site.
He is also currently the vice-chair of governors at Broadlea Primary School, his old school.
Looking back at County Hall’s recent school closure plans, which provoked widespread controversy, Councillor Brading said there should have been “a lot more” conversations with the Diocese of Portsmouth during the process’s “very early stage” and with academies on the Island.
The councillor added he would make sure a renewed closures process is conducted in an “open, fair, transparent way”.
“If we do get to the stage of a (closures) recommendation, we’ll have done all the homework properly in advance – it won’t be rushed, it’ll be done thoroughly and properly.”
The children’s services, education and skills committee will next meet on 26th June 2025.
Article edit
2.55pm 10th Jun 2025 – Correction to closure of Yarmouth/All Saints primaries.
10am 11th Jun 2025 – Correction to date of next meeting
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
