School closures on the Isle of Wight

Our diocese challenged plans drawn up by the Isle of Wight Council to deal with an issue of surplus places by closing schools. Three of the schools initially identified for closure in September 2024 were Church of England schools - Oakfield CofE Primary in Ryde, Brading Cof EPrimary and Arreton St George's CofE Primary.

Our diocese recognises the challenge of surplus places, and didn't oppose these plans merely because these schools are CofE schools. But we maintained that the rationale for closing these three schools was not wholly clear or transparent. 

In March 2025, the Isle of Wight Council's Cabinet voted to close Arreton St George's CofE Primary, but not to close Oakfield CofE Primary or Brading CofE Primary. They also voted to close Cowes Primary School, but not to close Wroxall Primary School. We then appealed this decision with the Office for the Schools Adjudicator (OSA).

In June 2025, the OSA overturned the decision to close Arreton St George's CofE Primary, ruling that the process followed by the Isle of Wight Council was flawed and not transparent. You can read our reaction to this news here.