The site of Yarmouth Primary School was kindly donated to the Community of Yarmouth by Catherine Leigh in 1854 for the education of children and adults.  

The Isle of Wight Council has decided, in its infinite wisdom, to sell it on the open market for the highest price.  All of the money will go to firstly the Diocese of Portsmouth then the balance back to the Government’s Department for Education.

Rumours abound that developers want to build luxury flats, no doubt as second homes for mainlanders, which would be of dubious benefit to us as Islanders.

Any submission under Freedom of Information requests to find out about the processes  followed by diocese and Isle of Wight Council are met with the standard response, ‘it would be likely to prejudice the commercial interest of the Isle of Wight Council’.

The loss of the school was a heavy blow to the community of Yarmouth who were not consulted. The loss of value of the site to off Island organisations would just add salt to the wound.

A number of local and regional organisations have expressed interest in continuing educational use of the site.

Yarmouth Town Council is surveying local residents to find out the wishes of the community, which is more than any other organisation has done.