The number of students in the school has been steadily decreasing over the past few years and currently stands at 22 while its capacity is 91.

As schools are funded on a ‘per pupil’ basis, excess places create a significant funding challenge for the school, which projects a budget deficit of £ 118,057 in 2022/2023.

In response, an informal consultation on the school’s merger with Godshill Primary School was launched earlier this year at the request of the Stenbury Foundation, which governs the two schools.

A new report released today (Wednesday) includes many of the suggestions made during this process.

All will undergo a full six-week public consultation if approved by Cabinet next Thursday.

The options are varied and include:

• Leave the two schools open and federated, which means that the status quo remains.

• Merge Chillerton and Rookley Elementary School with Godshill Elementary School with the closure of Chillerton and Rookley Elementary School.

• Merge Chillerton and Rookley Elementary School with Godshill Elementary School with the closure of Godshill Elementary School.

• Seek out a free academy / school sponsor for Chillerton and Rookley Primary School and, if successful, defend the school from the Stenbury Federation.

• Defend Chillerton and Rookley from the Stenbury Federation and reform it into a stand-alone primary school.

• Look for another local school maintained to federate with the Chillerton and Rookley elementary school.

• Set up a flexi-schooling offer on the Chillerton and Rookley site to support the full-time offer.

The board said it would also welcome any other suggestions from stakeholders during the proposed consultation.

Subject to approval, another report would be presented to Cabinet next spring, outlining the results of the consultation, including recommendations.

To read the Cabinet document in its entirety, visit www.iow.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s4965/Report.pdf