Names of Isle of Wight primary schools at risk of shutting will be revealed in September and closures are likely to take effect from autumn next year, the Isle of Wight Council has confirmed.

It forms part of the local authority's plan to tackle the issue of surplus schools places.

Having too many empty seats and not enough pupils to fill them has a "stark and severe" financial impact, the council has warned.

For every surplus place, schools lose more than £4,500, affecting resources, opportunities and the quality of education children receive.

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According to the council, by March 2027, 22 Island primary schools may face budget deficits, potentially amounting to a cumulative £7.4 million or more.

Plans will be further discussed at a council cabinet meeting tonight (Thursday).

  • Tonight's meeting will also discuss plans to reduce some of the speed limits on the main road between Newport and Sandown.

At a meeting of the council's corporate scrutiny committee on Tuesday, July 16, the council set out its timetable of plans to address surplus places.

It was revealed the list of schools earmarked for expansion, amendment or closure will be named at cabinet on September 12.

This will then be followed by a formal consultation period.

A decision on which schools will shut would then be made in December and the closures would likely take effect from autumn 2025. 

Ashley Whittaker, director of children's service at the council, said: "This is fundamental to improving education on the Island.

"Headteachers and governing bodies are very broadly in agreement with the need to act in quite a significant way.

"This is a problem here and now."

A children's services 'partnership' between the Isle of Wight Council and Hampshire County Council ended back in February, after a decade.

Since taking over, the council's children's services team say they have visited every Island school and worked closely with head teachers and governors.

Previous attempts to tackle the issue of surplus places saw the council criticised for publicly naming at risk schools.

This time round, a series of public drop-ins for parents and staff have been held in advance, as well as plans to launch a formal consultation.