More than 2,300 school spaces were empty on the Isle of Wight last year, latest government figures have revealed.
In the recent release of the annual school capacity survey, 38 of the Island’s schools had space for more pupils.
In total, 12.6 per cent of spaces — or 2,367 school pupils — 1,195 in primary and 1,172 in secondary —were unfilled.
Highest amounts of unfilled places
Schools are allocated a certain amount of pupils they can cater for and then given funding accordingly.
The seven Island schools with the highest amounts of unfilled places:
- Chillerton and Rookley Primary – 44 of 78 spaces (56 per cent)
- Brighstone C of E Primary – 92 of 207 spaces (44 per cent)
- Oakfield C of E Primary – 165 of 420 spaces (39 per cent)
- St Francis Catholic and C of E Primary – 90 of 315 spaces (28.5 per cent)
- Newport C of E Primary – 110 of 405 spaces (27 per cent)
- Cowes Enterprise College – 374 of 1,211 spaces (23.6 per cent)
- Wroxall Primary – 38 of 168 spaces
The future of Chillerton and Rookley Primary School is currently hanging in the balance with the Isle of Wight Council once again deliberating the best course of action for the school.
Since the figures have been recorded, Cowes Enterprise College has reduced the number of pupils it accepts in a year. It reduced the yearly intake of students by 60, down to 210.
Primary schools affected
There are seven schools — all primaries — either at or over capacity in 2020/21.
At the top of that list, with an extra 35 per cent of pupils enrolled over its capacity, is Yarmouth C of E Primary School which recently welcomed pupils from the now-closed All Saints C of E Primary in Freshwater.
According to government statistics, Yarmouth Primary should only have 105 pupils enrolled at the school but in the latest count had 142 children attending — 37 extra.
A new school is being built for Yarmouth — on the All Saints site.
Schools either at or over capacity
The seven Island primary schools over or at capacity are:
- Yarmouth C of E Primary – 37 children over-capacity (35 per cent)
- St Saviours Catholic Primary – 12 children over-capacity (8.6 per cent)
- Brading C of E Primary – Seven over-capacity (4.8 per cent)
- Lanesend Primary – 15 children over-capacity (3.6 per cent)
- Newchurch Primary – Five children over-capacity (2.4 per cent)
- Dover Park Primary – Three children over-capacity (1.4 per cent)
- Niton Primary School – at capacity.
The number of pupils has stayed roughly the same with 8,836 children in primary school in 20/21, compared to 8,834 in 18/19.
Pupil figures at secondary school have increased by nearly 50 from 7,528 in 18/19 to 7,577 in 20/21.
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
