Mobile Classrooms For Gurnard Primary Students Ahead Of Cowes Closure

Mobile classrooms could be used at Gurnard Primary School, to provide more classrooom space when pupils from the soon-to-be-closed Cowes Primary School transfer over.

Two ‘double mobile classroom’ buildings could be built to allow for ‘additional pupil places’.

County Hall has lodged plans to install a new prefabricated modular classroom building and a relocated modular classroom in a field to the south of Gurnard Primary School.

The proposal would ‘provide additional classroom facilities together with ancillary spaces such as toilets, cloakrooms and storage cupboards, to facilitate additional pupil places’, according to a council Design and Access Statement.

It says:

“On December 12, the cabinet of the Isle of Wight Council approved the publication of a statutory proposal to close Cowes Primary School with effect from August 31, 2025.

“From September 1, 2025, the pupils remaining on roll at Cowes Primary School would be offered a place at Gurnard Primary School. Gurnard is the next nearest primary school and is 1.12 miles away by road.

“The local authority has reviewed the accommodation at Gurnard Primary School and deemed that additional modular accommodation would be required.

“We understand that concerns have been raised around the suitability of modular accommodation (previously referred to as mobile classrooms) however, they are designed and constructed to meet the same building codes and standards as traditional site-built structures.

“This includes regulations for structural integrity, fire safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency.”

The council’s public consultation on application 25/00586/FUL finishes on August 8 and a decision is expected on September 1.