This in from the council, in their own words, Ed
The Island Learning Centre will open its doors for the autumn term at the former Hunnyhill Primary School in Newport on Friday 4 September.
Parents, carers and pupils will be welcomed to the new facility on Friday, where they can view their new school.
Following the devastating fire that saw the loss of the Island Learning Centre building at Lake, on 17 July, council and school staff have worked tirelessly together throughout the summer holidays to ensure that staff and pupils will have a school to attend from September.
Building a positive and supportive learning environment
New headteacher of the Island Learning Centre, Clive Barnes, said:
“I am very grateful to the council for giving us a wonderful building to start our new term, and my new role as Headteacher. I’d also like to thank my predecessor Tom Pegler, who worked with me during the summer term for the relocation of the school.
“The staff and I will initially be focussed on ensuring that our pupils settle into their new surroundings quickly and comfortably, and we look forward to building a positive and supportive learning environment for our pupils.”
Complete refit
The former Hunnyhill Primary School has undergone a complete refit including new: flooring, furniture, IT and telephone systems, electrics, fire safety systems, CCTV (internal and external), classroom resources; as well as a complete redecoration, extension of the playing fields and car park (including improved access) and complete security fencing around the site perimeter. Staff have also been trained in line with the new premises, systems and processes.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“The new site looks fantastic. We have replaced everything like-for-like to ensure that pupils and staff can settle into their new home quickly and easily.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to council staff, and colleagues in Hampshire, who have worked tirelessly throughout the summer to achieve what, in July, was a seemingly impossible task. They have delivered a brilliant new facility in such a short space of time, in the wake of such a shocking and devastating event for all concerned. What was a disaster for some of the island’s most vulnerable children has been turned into a very positive situation. I hope that staff and pupils enjoy their new home!”
Short-term home for the school
Hunnyhill is initially the short-term home for the school. A consultation on the longer-term solution will take place within the next few months, due to the current site being outside of the two-mile radius permitted for relocation.
Demolition of the Island Learning Centre site in Lake, which was destroyed by the fire, is now complete.
The cost of the relocation of the Island Learning Centre to the former Hunnyhill site has been covered by insurance, subject to excess.
