IN ANSWER to the problem of too many pupil places for the number of children enrolling, a consultation is underway – with the Isle of Wight Council seeking views on admission reductions at four Island schools.  

Back in August, it was revealed that instead of closing schools, the council had approached some of them, asking them to lower their pupil admission numbers (PAN).

This is due to a lack of children enrolling.

The local authority is seeking views on the following PAN reductions:

  • Barton Primary School, Newport – from 45 to 30.
  • Broadlea Primary School, Sandown – from 45 to 30.
  • Carisbrooke CE Primary School – from 60 to 45.
  • Godshill Primary School – from 27 to 20.

The consultation period, set at six weeks by a statutory Government code, will end on January 6, 2023.

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The council has a legal duty to determine arrangements that will apply to school admissions for the 2024/25 academic year by February 28, 2023.

Replies to the consultation will need to go before the council’s Cabinet in January to meet this deadline.

Submissions can be made online via the consultation webpage.

For the 2020/21 academic year, government figures show more than 2,300 school spaces were empty on the Isle of Wight.

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