THE Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Revd Jonathan Frost, has urged council leaders to keep open three C of E schools earmarked for closure. He speaks of their “vital and distinctive” contribution.

The Isle of Wight Council announced in September proposals to close six primary schools, three of them C of E, referring to almost 2000 surplus places amid a national decline in the birth rate (News, 13 September). The surplus — projected to rise to 3056 by September 2027 — meant that schools “struggle to maintain a broad and high-quality curriculum”, the Council said. Data indicated that the school system on the island “consistently underperforms compared to national trends”.

The six schools earmarked for closure were chosen according to criteria that included quality of provision, children’s locations, and financial viability. The three C of E schools were Arreton St George’s, a small rural school in Newport; Oakfield, in Ryde (both of which have been rated “Requires improvement” by Ofsted); and Brading, a small, rural community primary school in Sandown (rated “Good”).

On Wednesday of last week, Bishop Frost, who chairs the council of the National Society, the Church of England’s education office, submitted a response to the council’s consultation, requesting that the three schools remain open and calling for “a pause, for significant reconsideration. . . Church of England schools offer something vital and distinctive that could easily be lost. They aren’t there to fill our pews or force religion on to people, but to serve their local communities, welcoming those of all faiths and none who come through their doors.”

He warned of “damaging, unintended consequences on the wider economies”, and pointed to “an unfounded presumption that families possess the finance and mobility to transport children to other schools. This is transparently not the case.” He also complained of a “disproportionate impact on Church of England schools”, noting that, for two of the schools named, the suggested alternatives were not C of E schools (for one of these, Oakfield, a Roman Catholic school located a ten-minute walk away was listed as an alternative).

Four of the five schools recommended as alternatives have “Good” ratings. The council has said that transport would be provided to pupils living in the village of Arreton. For pupils at the other two schools, three of the four alternatives are located between 1.6 and 2.6 miles away.

A statement published on the diocesan website said that the rationale for closing the three schools was “not wholly clear or transparent”, and that pupils’ attainment was not listed by the Department for Education as one of the reasons that a local authority should use to consider closing a school. The proposals “disproportionately affect those families living in disadvantaged areas”, it said.

Bishop Frost has reported that diocesan staff were given no prior warning by the council about which schools would be earmarked for closure, and no warning that the council might indicate alternative uses for all three school sites. “The use of land owned by the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE) is not a matter for the council to determine,” he said. “Any use of our land and schools would have to be approved by the DBE and with the support of the diocesan bishop. In the absence of consultation, I cannot imagine a situation where I would give my support.”

The council reports that the number of children and young people requiring an educational health and care plan for their needs has increased by more than 60 per cent in five years, with hundreds of new specialist places needed. It has proposed that five of the six schools’ sites be “repurposed” accordingly.

Bishop Frost said that he supported the aim to increase provision, but argued that all three C of E schools already delivered “specialist, well-received and integrated provision for children with special needs”.

The Ofsted report for Brading said that disadvantaged pupils and those pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) received “high-quality support”; one parent described it as “going above and beyond’.

The Ofsted report for Arreton St George’s, however, said that pupils with SEND were “not supported well enough in lessons. Staff do not always provide pupils with the help and resources they need to help them learn successfully. As a result, pupils with SEND do not achieve as well as they should.” The council has proposed establishing a “new therapeutic high anxiety mental health provision” on the site. Just 12 children living within a one-mile radius of it.

There are currently 12 C of E primary schools on the island, including one maintained in partnership with the Roman Catholic Church.