Five island primary schools set to close after vote

The Isle of Wight looks set to lose five primary schools after councillors voted in favour of closing them.

Six schools, Cowes, Arreton, Oakfield, Brading, Wroxall and Godshill primary, had been earmarked to close.

After a lengthy meeting on Thursday evening councillors voted to press ahead with plans to shut five of the schools with Godshill Primary School saved.

The proposals will go to full council for debate and an indicative vote in January.

A final cabinet meeting on the plans will be held in March. If the closures go ahead the five schools would close on 31 August 2025.

The closures plans have provoked considerable opposition from concerned parents and campaigners over the last few months.

Nick Binfield, who is still hoping to save Brading, said he was reassured it was a vote for a statutory consultation and not the end.

"Three of the five schools closing are Cof E schools.

"I think the church has a very strong case to challenge this decision about lack of choice."

Amy Martindale, a parent at Godshill, said there had been "tears of joy and celebrations".

"We are shocked and overwhelmed, I don't think it's sunk in yet. But our heart goes out to the other schools, we've all got to know each other during these campaigns," she said.

Director of education at the diocese of Portsmouth, Jeff Williams, had said before the meeting he was "unconvinced" that the council has considered the impact on rural communities and vulnerable families.

It said it may consider appealing to the Independent Adjudicator for Schools which has the final say.

Previously, the council said a falling birth rate had left nearly 1,900 unfilled places in mainstream schools as of October 2023, putting financial pressure on the authority.