Youth & Education
GURNARD 1st SEA SCOUTS
Gurnard 1st Sea Scouts meets on Tuesday evenings, and activities include:
- Water-borne activities
- Camping
- Hiking
- Cycling
- West Wight competitions
The local “Troop” follows all the guidelines, with respect to age groups and activities, as the National Sea Scouts and full details of all this are on the Scoutbase website. The local Leader is Ben Ralphs.
Contact Details:
e-mail: gurnard2@onwight.net
Web address: www.scoutbase.org.uk (National Site)
SOLENT MIDDLE SCHOOL
The school is situated on the very edge of Gurnard Parish, in Baring Road, and serves not only Gurnard but much of the Cowes Sprawl area as well as Porchfield and Newtown.
The Island currently has a 3-tier system of school, and Solent Middle caters for the 9 to 13 year olds.
The school was opened in 1972, and has an admission take up of 87 pupils for each year group.
Contact details:
Address: Solent Middle School
Baring Road
Gurnard
COWES
Isle of Wight
PO31 8DS
Tel: 01983 295713
Fax: 01983 298720
e-mail: admin.solentm@lineone.net
Web: www.solent.iow.sch.uk
GURNARD PRIMARY SCHOOL
The Island has a 3-tier school system, with this being the first main stream level of formal education, though many children attend a Pre School beforehand.
Gurnard Primary School consists of one main building, the older part of which dates to 1906, with substantial additions being added in 1981 and 1991 and, to a smaller degree, in 2003. There is also a swimming pool, supported by the PTFA.
The school celebrated its Centenary in 2006, and this was marked by the opewning of its new adventure playground.
The school caters for the 4/5 to 9 year olds, and serves families in Gurnard and its outlying areas, as well as Porchfield and Newtown.
Contact details:
Address Gurnard Primary School
Hilton Road
GURNARD
Isle of Wight
PO31 8JB
Tel: 01983 295923
Fax: 01983 295923
e-mail: admin.gurnardpri@tiscali.co.uk
Web: www.gurnardpri.iow.sch.uk
GURNARD YOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

Gurnard Youth Football Club is a voluntary concern, relying heavily on sponsorship and donations and staffed by about 11 dedicated adults and has been in existence at least since 1975.
The Club caters for the 5 to 18 year olds, and the youngsters train inside at Cowes High School and Cowes Youth Club and outside at Somerton Middle School.
Two grounds are used for matches, namely Somerton Middle School playing field in Love Lane for the Under 8's, 9’s,10’s, 11's & 12’s and the Under 13’s & Under 16's at the Recreation Ground in Park Road.
Matches are played on Sundays against Clubs across the Island, and the Club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association and the Isle of Wight Sunday Youth League. There is also the annual Paul Westby Tournament in April.
The Committee is hard working and it meets at the Northwood Cricket Club on the second Thursday of each month at 8pm, and everyone with an interest is invited to come along. Various fundraising events are held throughout the year, including a horse race evening and a bingo night.
Youngsters’ enthusiasm is noted and rewarded each year, when presentations are made to recognise effort and achievement.
Currently the Club Officers are:
Spud Rudd (Chairman)
Dave Bunday (Vice-Chairman)
Eileen Panayi (Secretary)
Karen Rudd (Welfare Officer)
Contact Details:
General Enquiries:
Eileen Panayi
Tel: 01983 298103
Email: etpanayi@msn.com
Under 8's & Nursery - Andy McDowell
Under 8's Galaxy - Paul Coshell
Under 9’s Gladiators - Colin Bell
Under 10’s - Wayne Butt
Under 11’s Warriors - Dave Bunday
Under 12’s Vipers - Deena Proctor
Under 12's Cobra's - Andy McDowell
Under 13’s Giants - Spud & Karen Rudd
Under 16’s Craig Mackenzie
MAD COWES NETBALL CLUB

Training takes place at Cowes High School on Tuesday evenings after the school day. and most "juniors" are from the Cowes and Gurnard communities.
There are 2 main groups:
Junior Group which meet from 6pm to 7pm
Senior Group which also meets from 6pm to 7pm
Having fun is the main focus, and the club offers quality netball training for Juniors and Seniors within a well-run club framework where the well-being & safety of all and enjoyment of the game come first.
Juniors and Seniors currently play in the IW Leagues and there is alsao the opportunity to take part in the Hampshire League.
Club Officers are:
Janet Danson (Chairman)
Rhian Charman (Vice-Chairman)
Julie Jeffers (Treasurer)
Eileen Panayi (Coach & Secretary)
Julie Higginson (Welfare Officer)
Contact details:
General enquiries:
Eileen Panayi
Tel: 01983 298103
e-mail: etpanayi@onwight.net
GURNARD PRE-SCHOOL
The Pre-School provides a friendly and structured environment for youngsters, offering 25 places to children from ages 2 years and 10 months to 4 years old, which is situated on the same site as Gurnard Primary School and works very closely with it.
There are 9 sessions per week during term time, running from 9am until 11.30am and also from 12.30pm until 3pm.
The Pre-School has a kite mark accreditation, and provides a range of activities to suit all ages and follows the National Curriculum.
Activities include:
1. Painting
2. Gluing
3. Role play
4. Puzzle solving
5. Books
6. ICT
7. Construction
8. Sand and water play
9. Mathematical and scientific activities
10. Music
11. Writing
There is a fair-sized outdoor area, which provides facilities such as:
1. Climbing frame
2. Bikes
3. Scooters
4. Playhouse
5. Construction play
6. Imaginative play
If the school is full, a waiting list is available.
Contact Details:
Val Munt (Supervisor)
Address: Gurnard Pre-School
Hilton Road
GURNARD
Isle of Wight
PO31 8JB
Tel: 01983 280441
e-mail: preschool@gurnard.fsbusiness.co.uk
GURNARD GUIDES AND BROWNIES
A full annual programme is run in the Village throughout the year, for both Brownies and Guides.
Two very enthusiastic Ladies head up the local groups:
Girl Guides:
Miss Jenny Thomas
01983 293588
Brownies:
Mrs Margaret Nicholls
01983 200375
STARBELL RIDING STABLES
The Riding Stables specialise in:
a. Group Riding & Pony Care for children
b. Pony Club activities
c. Riding for the Disabled (all ages & experience from 3 years old)
Jenny is the Isle of Wight Riding for the Disabled Group Organiser.
Contact:
Miss Jenny Thomas
"Springvale"
Tuttons Hill
GURNARD
PO31 8JA
Tel: 01983 293588