The Isle of Wight Council has been told it will need to toughen up and make a decision on the future of the Island’s smallest school.
From January, there will be no teacher at Chillerton and Rookley Primary School, meaning the ten children at the school will have to find alternative education arrangements.
No applications had been received to fill the vacancy, despite advertising the role, and pupil numbers have continued to decline.
The future of the school has twice been in danger before, although under the council’s Alliance Administration, the authority has made it clear school closures should be avoided where possible.
The Isle of Wight Council has said it was not a school closure and pupils could remain on the roll of Chillerton and Rookley Primary but be educated at Godshill — its partner school under the Stenbury Federation.
However, parents of pupils at Chillerton and Rookley have said they are refusing to move their children, citing their right under the Education Act for their child to be educated in accordance with their parents’ wishes.
Speaking at the education scrutiny committee last night (Thursday), Cllr Debbie Andre, education lead member, said the authority did not have any alternatives.
She said:
“I have a duty and responsibility to ensure those children have a suitable education but it is not just about learning.
“To have such small numbers with differing ages, it has got to a point where I can no longer say that is an acceptable or suitable education.
“We are not closing the school, we are saying we can no longer continue.”
The Isle of Wight Council launched a strategic review earlier this year to resolve the issue of surplus places in Island primary schools.
Under the strategic review, the council is now consulting on whether to reduce the number of pupil places at four other schools.
The issue with Chillerton and Rookley, however, could go on indefinitely until the school hires a new teacher, the committee heard yesterday.
Cllr Martin Oliver said at some stage the council would need to make the uncomfortable decision.
He said:
“A school with no pupils and no teachers is an empty building. I know no one wants to say we have to close it.
"But as a council we have to make a decision. We don’t need the spaces and we won’t for the foreseeable future.”
Cllr Andre agreed with the sentiment but said the council needed to do its due diligence before they took a decision, so it would be the right one for Island children.
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