“Realistically we are looking at a large number of primary schools that will need to close,” an Isle of Wight councillor has said.
It comes as new figures reveal by September 2027 there will be nearly 400 empty places in primary schools across the Island — equating to 30 per cent of all places or 11 empty primary school classes.
Outlaw: Even sudden burst of births wouldn’t be enough to keep all schools open
Councillor Tig Outlaw highlighted the numbers at a meeting of the Isle of Wight council’s policy and scrutiny committee for children’s education and said the council would ‘need to close a minimum of eight to ten or a maximum of 15 plus’ schools.
He said even if there was a sudden burst of births on the Island it wouldn’t be enough to keep all the schools open.
Whittaker: No decisions about any closures yet
The council’s new children’s service director, Ashley Whittaker, said the authority has made no decisions about any closures yet, they were “not at that stage” and were in “more of a listening mode”.
The authority will, in the coming months, engage with and listen to parents, children and staff on what they think should happen with the Island’s primary school futures.
Public consultation
A consultation will then be launched, potentially in June, about the “driver of the decisions” Mr Whittaker said, which schools they believe are “appropriate to close or amend” and they would need to be clear with the mechanism and logic behind that, he said.
The final schools proposed for closure or change, would be named in September.
Whittaker: A very complex matter
Mr Whittaker said it is a very complex matter and the council does recognise how sensitive an issue it is for children, parents and staff.
He said the consultation and engagement sessions need to be as honest, open and transparent as possible.
Mr Whittaker said,
“This is a whole Island approach.
“I know there have been discussions about this and particular schools in the past but we are starting with a blank sheet of paper.
“This piece of work is just one element of the wider work we need to do to drive up outcomes and the quality of education on the Island.”
He said there are a number of reasons, including financial, why it is necessary to make changes to the Island’s primary schools although he did not know yet what those changes would be.
Whittaker: Going to be a difficult process
Mr Whittaker said,
“This is going to be a difficult process.
“There is significant uncertainty about it and if we didn’t have to go through this I think we would all choose that but it is in the best interests of children and young people and their families longterm on the Island to do this.
“We are confident at the end of this we will have an education system which is fit for purpose for the Island in the future and children now.”
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
