The decision to close a rural primary school on the Island has once again been delayed – so a potential partnership with The Island Free School can be considered.
Announced at tonight’s (Thursday) cabinet meeting, the council’s lead education member, Cllr Debbie Andre, has deferred the decision to close Chillerton and Rookley Primary School, to ‘explore all avenues’ with the Ventnor-based free school.
The decision was on the table nearly a year ago, after the school suffered declining pupil numbers and monetary pressures, but was paused in May by Cllr Andre following the local election.
After further consultation at the end of last year, the Isle of Wight Council once again proposed the closure of Chillerton and Rookley, sending pupils to Godshill, after 32 per cent of respondents favoured the closure.
A quarter, however, preferred securing a free school or academy as a sponsor.
The Island Free School had said it was ‘open to the discussions’ about a partnership between the two education facilities but the primary school must be defederated from the Stenbury Federation.
Concerns over the decision from opposition councillors and the community about the lack of exploration of the partnership with the Free School has led the council’s cabinet to think again.
A member of the Save Our Schools group, fighting to keep Chillerton open, questioned at the cabinet meeting what the council feared in the partnership with the Free School and said it seemed the plan was to close the school along.
Cllr Andre said they were a listening administration and had heard the comments, especially those from the corporate scrutiny committee earlier in the week, who called for the decision to be paused.
She said:
“No one wants to close any school … We have decided to defer the decision so further options can be explored.
“I apologise for the ongoing uncertainty but it is important we do everything we can to look at this new information …. the matter will be brought back as soon as possible but we have to explore all avenues.”
The council previously said in cabinet papers, finding a sponsor who was prepared to take the small school on with such a ‘significant financial deficit’ was unlikely. The school’s deficit currently stands at £80,374.
The process of coming to the decision was criticised by scrutiny councillors earlier in the week, who had serious concerns, with the debate going on ‘far too long’, leaving families, pupils and staff waiting for an answer.
Cllr Suzie Ellis, local ward representative, has welcomed the further consideration but said she was concerned for the children, parents, staff, governors and wider members of the community who have already waited so long for a decision.
She said:
“I am keen to understand from the cabinet member whether she is in receipt of additional or new information which justifies this delay.”
Four Men Arrested Following Rogue Trader Activities In East Cowes
Rugby Players Set To Scale Great Heights For Teddy
Drug Driving, Domestic Abuse And Stalking Among Arrests Made As Police Target Isle Of Wight Criminals
Work Begins On ‘Monumental’ Mural Project At Historic Columbine Building
More Acts Added To Isle Of Wight Festival Line-Up
St Mary’s Vaccination Hub Gets Ready For Spring Covid-19 Vaccinations
Twenty Isle Of Wight Pubs Under Threat As Stonegate Issues Profit Warning
Fundraiser Launched As Kezi's Kindness Founder Diagnosed With Incurable Cancer
Bon Voyage — White-Tailed Eagle Soars To France
Goddards Brewery Scoops Four Top Industry Awards At International Competition
Briddlesford Road Crash Results In Two Injured
Isle Of Wight MP Extolls Virtues Of Joint Emergency Service Officers For Isle Of Wight
Island Labour Announces Parliamentary Candidates As Quigley Vows To 'Take Fight' To Bob Seely
Can You Help Police To Identify Man Linked To Waitrose Theft?
Ryde Town Council In Crackdown On Dog Fouling
Former Patient Opens New Intensive Care Unit
Isle Of Wight Primary School Place Allocations Announced For September
The Rules Islanders Need To Know For Police And Crime Commissioner Election Postal Voting
Family Pays Tribute To Paul Hart Following Fatal Newport Collision
Teenager Sentenced For Planning Isle Of Wight Festival Terrorist Attack
