‘No decisions’ have been made about the future of any individual school, the Isle of Wight Council has said.
‘Listening and engagement’ sessions on planning school places for the future are currently being held by the local authority.
In an email to parents and carers, County Hall’s education service manager Beth Dyer has said views shared during each session will be considered as part of information presented to the council’s education committee in March.
Only one member of the public attended
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) was permitted entry to one of the scheduled sessions at the Riverside Centre on 4th February 2026.
While at the 2.30pm to 4.30pm event for around an hour, there appeared to be only one member of the public present.
The LDRS was not permitted an interview with Ms Dyer, despite asking. County Hall subsequently agreed to answer interview questions through its press office instead.
‘No decisions’ have ‘at this stage’ been made
A spokesperson emphasised ‘no decisions’ have ‘at this stage’ been made about the future of any individual school and said some of the listening and engagement sessions are being held for specific groups, such as headteachers, parents and trade union representatives.
They acknowledged conversations about school place planning can feel worrying, particularly for children, families and staff who care deeply about their schools.
“The current focus is on listening, learning, understanding concerns”
The spokesperson said,
“School place planning is about ensuring there are the right number of school places in the right locations, both now and in the future.
“It involves looking at pupil numbers, demographics, school capacity, and how schools can remain viable, sustainable and able to provide high-quality education for children.
“It is a long-term planning process and does not, in itself, mean that decisions have been made about individual schools.
“The current focus is on listening, learning, understanding concerns, impacts, and alternative ideas so that any future discussions are informed not just by data, but by the lived experiences of those most affected.
“We are committed to approaching this work transparently and carefully, with children’s wellbeing, educational outcomes, and community impact at the centre of any future considerations.”
Reduction in birth rate
There are fewer primary-aged children on the Island, meaning less overall funding, government financing is stretched and there is pressure on staffing, retention, expertise and recruitment, according to the council.
An online session for parents and carers is being held on Thursday (12th February 2026) from 6pm to 7.30pm.
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
