TWO Island schools are proposing a reduction in their admission numbers.

Christ the King College and Medina College are both undergoing a consultation period to alter their admission numbers.

The current yearly admission number for Christ the King College is 240, but the application is to reduce future Year 7 intakes to 180, with effect from September 2022.

For children who already have a place at the college in other year groups there will be no change.

The consultation will run until January 28, 2021. Interested bodies are invited to submit comments in writing via e-mail or letter to the clerk to governors via emily.pitman@christthekingcollege.co.uk

Medina College is proposing reducing its intake number from 210 to 180 places in Year 7, also with effect from September 2022.

The application states: "This is being proposed as the Isle of Wight is in an area of surplus secondary places and census information shows that this surplus of places will continue in the future.

"Reducing the number will assist the governing board in providing stability in its long-term planning and allow Medina College to continue to secure high quality educational outcomes for the students currently on roll, while continuing to provide an appropriate number of places for future pupil numbers in line with demand."

All responses to the consultation should be made in writing and submitted before 12 noon on

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 to the clerk to governors emma.shambrook@iwef.org.uk or by post

to the school.

At Cowes Enterprise College, a proposal has been lodged for 2022 to clarify the definition of 'siblings' and 'staff children' on the admissions policy.

Admission capacity for Island schools in September 2020 were: Carisbrooke College 120, Christ the King College 240, Cowes Enterprise College 210, Medina College 210, Ryde Academy 270,

The Bay CE School 180 (includes 60 places for current Year 6), and The Island Free School 125.

There is a surplus of places overall.

Cllr Paul Brading, cabinet member for education, children's services and skills, said: “Schools regularly review their pupil admission numbers and Medina and Christ the King are consulting on proposals to reduce their future numbers." 

He said Medina had an intake of 145 this year, and Christ the King had 183.

He said: "In 2017 the total admissions number across the secondary schools was 1,555. Since then we have seen reductions at Cowes 270 to 210,  and The Bay 240 to 180, but even if these further two schools decide to reduce also, there are still ample secondary places available on the Island now and for the longer term.

"The average yearly secondary intake is around 1,350, with our current predictions showing that this number will reduce over the next six to seven years by about 200.”