The Diocese of Portsmouth has formally opposed the planned closure of three Church of England primary schools in Arreton, Brading, and Oakfield. In a decisive move, the Diocese sent a letter of claim to the Isle of Wight Council, expressing significant concerns over the council's proposal to close these schools. The closures are part of the council's efforts to address declining pupil numbers on the island, a situation exacerbated by a falling birth rate, which has placed financial strain on the region.
The Isle of Wight Council, led by the Alliance Group, proposed closing these schools to manage the surplus of unfilled places, which numbered 1,900 in mainstream schools as of October 2023. Projections indicate that this number could rise to 3,056 by September 2027. Despite these figures, the Diocese of Portsmouth argues that the council failed to consult all relevant parties before selecting the schools for closure.
In January, the full council voted on these proposals, where they narrowly opposed the cabinet's plans. However, the ballot was non-binding and merely advisory, leaving the final decision to the council's cabinet. A decision is scheduled for March 6.
Jeff Williams, the Diocese's director of education, has been vocal about the opposition, highlighting concerns about potential impacts on local communities. He stated,
"This process has been flawed from the start, as we have explained to councillors and officers multiple times." – Jeff Williams, Diocesan director of education
The Diocese's stance is clear: they believe the school closures could have detrimental effects on already struggling communities. An unnamed spokesperson from the Diocese criticized the council's rationale, saying,
"The reasons the council have given for school closures have been unclear, inconsistent and risk doing further damage to communities that have already been hit hard by these ill-informed plans."
The Isle of Wight Council maintains that it has engaged with all stakeholders throughout the School Place Planning process. A council spokesperson stated,
"Throughout the School Place Planning process, we have actively worked with all stakeholders to ensure everyone is involved in the future of School Place Planning on the island."
