No plans to implement permanent capacity solutions at any Island schools

Almost half have at least one mobile classroom

Government has no current plans to implement permanent capacity solutions at any of the Island's schools.

A Freedom of Information request by Manx Radio has revealed almost half are using mobile classrooms.

There are 32 primary schools on the Island along with the five secondary schools.

Seven of them are either at or over capacity, and some significantly.

Ballakermeen High School, for example, has 108 more students enrolled in this academic year than it has space for, while Henry Bloom Noble Primary in Douglas has 73 more.

Eighteen sites have a total of 28 mobiles, half of which are more than 20 years old. 

The oldest is at Bunscoill Ghaelgagh in St John's, which was installed before 1990.

While the Department of Education says it doesn't know the advised lifespan of each of the mobiles, most manufacturers suggest between 20-30 years.

When asked whether or not there were plans to replace older mobiles or for more permanent capacity solutions, the department said it 'does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information requested'.

The same response was given when asked if there were plans to build new schools in places that are seeing rapid expansion, including Ballasalla as the Reayrt Mie housing estate continues to extend.

The primary school there has just had planning permission to build a double mobile after another one was installed last year.

Meanwhile, almost a third of the Island's primary schools have fewer than 100 students.

Jurby is the smallest with just 42 children attending, followed by Ballaugh with 57 and Bunscoill Ghaelgagh with 64.

Currently the only school due to see any improvements is Castle Rushen High School, which is set to have a replacement facility built by 2030.

As part of this administration's Economic Strategy, government is hoping to increase the population of the Island to 100,000 by 2037.