School place planning consultation

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Have your say on Isle of Wight school place planning proposals

Open date: 3 January 2025

Close date: 3 February 2025

Neighbourhood: Island wide

Category: Schools and education

Read the cabinet papers for the meeting which took place on Thursday 12 December 2024

Consultation on proposed primary school closures

Residents on the Isle of Wight have another opportunity to have their say on proposed primary school closures.

Following Cabinet approval last month, Public Notices have today (Friday 3 January 2025) been published for Arreton St George's CE, Brading CE, Cowes, Oakfield CE and Wroxall primary schools.

If approved, these closures would come into effect from 31 August 2025. 

Additionally, a Public Notice has also been published proposing a 12-place primary resourced provision for children with Autism Spectrum Condition at The Bay CE Primary School.

Following the publication of the notices, there will now be a statutory four-week consultation on the proposals with residents encouraged to share their views through the council's website, via email, or by post.

Background

The proposed closures are a response to a significant decline in birth rates both locally and nationally over the past five years.

Currently, the Island has 10,724 primary school places available, but the number of children needing these places is projected to fall significantly by 2027.

The overall number of primary pupils is expected to decrease from 9,300 in 2017, to 7,640 in three years' time.

By addressing surplus places, and realigning primary school provision to the number of children on the Island, the council aims to begin to improve the quality of education on the Island so as to support the futures of children and young people and the future of the Island as a whole.

Proposals

How to participate in the consultation

The consultation will run until Monday 3 February 2025.

Post: Naomi Carter, Service Director, Children's Services Department, Floor 3, County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1UD


If you need us to write down your response to this proposal because you cannot complete it yourself phone the Strategic Development Team on phone: (01983) 821000 ext. 6588 between 9:30am and 4:30pm, and we will take down your response.

Take this further opportunity to share your views with us.

The Cabinet is expected to make a final decision on the proposals in late February or early March.