The Isle of Wight council is moving to the next stage in the process relating to the proposed closure of five primary schools, driven by a significant decline in pupil numbers and the need to address surplus places.
After a further public consultation on school places, which ended on 3rd February, a report published today (Wednesday) recommends these closures to tackle more than 2,300 empty primary school places across the Island.
Finalised by Cabinet
The proposals will be discussed, and a final decision will be made by the Cabinet at their next meeting on Thursday, 6th March 2025.
Councillors are being asked to consider the following recommendations:
- The closure of Cowes Primary School, Arreton St Georges CE Primary School, Brading CE Primary School, Wroxall Primary School, and Oakfield CE Primary School, all effective from 31st August 2025.
- The creation of a 12-place primary resourced provision for children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) at The Bay CE School (Primary).
Improving education for all children on the Island
These decisions are part of the council’s plan to improve education for all children on the Island in line with its draft education strategy published last summer.
The Island currently has space for 10,724 primary-aged children. As of November 2024, there were 2,311 unfilled school places, up from 1,898 in October 2023.
Schools affected by infant class size rules face particular challenges, as they may have limited ability to save money by changing staffing structures or the use of physical space.
For example, a school with an intake of 60 that only admits 32 pupils must still employ two teachers and maintain two classrooms, even though the budget for that year group may have nearly halved.
Bacon: Lowest level birth rate since 1941
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for children’s services, said,
“Nobody proposes the closure of a school lightly, but the number of births on the Island has now reached its lowest level since 1941.
“In 2028, only 890 children will start reception, 514 fewer than started in September 2018. The overall number of primary pupils is forecast to decrease from 9,300 in 2017 to 7,640 in 2027 — the second largest decrease in pupil numbers across the country.
“Our goal is to provide schools that deliver high-quality education and are financially sustainable. While some surplus places provide flexibility, too many can severely impact schools’ finances.
“Schools are funded based on pupil numbers, and fewer pupils mean less funding. For primary schools in 2025/26, this equates to about £4,887 per child per year. If a class with a capacity for 30 pupils only has 20, this results in a potential loss of £48,870 per year.
“The current number of primary school places is unsustainable, leading to inefficient use of resources. By reallocating these resources, we can better focus on improving educational outcomes for local children.
“The council must consider the needs of the children, both now and in the future, when making its final decision on how to address the oversupply of places.
“Our children are the future, and we need a workforce that can adapt and innovate. A high-quality education is essential for building a better future.
“The recommendations in this report offer the best chance for long-term educational improvement and financial stability for schools.”
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
