FOLLOWING ongoing protests and a potential judicial review, Isle of Wight Councillors have voted on the future of primary schools in the West Wight — one is set to be closed and another relocated.

The Isle of Wight Council cabinet last night (Thursday) voted to close All Saints' CE Primay, Freshwater, from August 31, 2020.

Members also agreed Yarmouth CE Primary School should be closed, and relocated to the All Saints' site.

Read more: Isle of Wight Council announce recommendations for West Wight School saga

The move will effectively merge the two schools, reducing surplus primary school places in the West Wight area.

Cabinet members said the closure and relocation of Yarmouth was a decision for the governors — who 'reluctantly' agreed it was the best way forward.

Read more: Yarmouth Primary School could move to Freshwater after all — after governors 'reluctantly agree' to Isle of Wight Council proposal

The recommendations were approved by eight out of nine cabinet members. Only Cllr Stuart Hutchinson, the West Wight ward councillor, abstained. He previously voted against the plans.

Cllr Paul Brading, cabinet member for children's services, education and skills, said the council was working with governing bodies, schools and the diocese to achieve its aims.

He said: "We are now in the process to move forward with this decision. It has been a long process, but rightfully so when we are putting children and education first.

"I am sure we all share the ambition to give our children the best education and start in life and the recommendations will start to do that."

Cllr Clare Mosdell, cabinet member for adult social care, public health and housing, criticised comments made on social media — pointing to fighting between parents at Yarmouth and All Saints and calling for some posts to be taken down.

She said: "Some of the stuff I have read has been quite appalling — there is no child who goes to Yarmouth or Freshwater schools will stand in a playground and be discriminated against by another child because of the school they went to.

"Anything in that child's mind will be stimulated by parents. We forget sometimes that children are sponges."

Read more: ''It's wrong, completely wrong' — Yarmouth parents protest to save their school from closure

A public notice will now be served to close All Saints.

Following consultations, a further report will go to the cabinet in January where a final decision on All Saints will be made. An update will also be provide on a consultation carried out by the Yarmouth governors.

After the meeting, Cllr Brading said he was delighted with the hard work All Saints' staff, governors and the PTA had put in to achieve a 'good' Ofsted rating following its latest inspection.

However, he said: "It doesn't change our direction of travel. All Saints does have a financial deficit and the benefit of a federation is that they share heads, business managers and resources.

"To me, it is now a merger of two good schools as opposed to a takeover.

"A lot of comments were made that were pretty vile to be honest it is unnecessary — this is children we are taking about and their education which is the most important thing for their future."

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