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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Warning on rural school closures | Warning on rural school closures |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The government is reminding England's local authorities that, by law, they should not be closing rural schools. | The government is reminding England's local authorities that, by law, they should not be closing rural schools. |
| A letter is being drafted to go to all councils, amid a lobbying campaign against small school closures. | A letter is being drafted to go to all councils, amid a lobbying campaign against small school closures. |
| Rural MPs are due to meet ministers on Wednesday to press their case that small schools are part of the lifeblood of rural communities. | Rural MPs are due to meet ministers on Wednesday to press their case that small schools are part of the lifeblood of rural communities. |
| Reorganisations prompted mainly by a fall in the birth rate have put hundreds of schools under threat. | Reorganisations prompted mainly by a fall in the birth rate have put hundreds of schools under threat. |
| Fewer schools | Fewer schools |
| Meanwhile, official figures obtained by the Conservatives show that since 1997 the number of secondary schools with under 600 pupils has declined by 42% from 904 to 526. | Meanwhile, official figures obtained by the Conservatives show that since 1997 the number of secondary schools with under 600 pupils has declined by 42% from 904 to 526. |
| The number of primary schools with fewer than 100 pupils has fallen by 219 to 2,605, down 8%. | The number of primary schools with fewer than 100 pupils has fallen by 219 to 2,605, down 8%. |
| We do not support federation imposed by external agencies essentially to resolve administrative problems National Association for Small Schools | We do not support federation imposed by external agencies essentially to resolve administrative problems National Association for Small Schools |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight is set to tell councils that they must take very seriously the statutory requirement in the 2006 Education Act that there is a presumption that rural schools will not close. | Schools Minister Jim Knight is set to tell councils that they must take very seriously the statutory requirement in the 2006 Education Act that there is a presumption that rural schools will not close. |
| As a top priority, successful and popular schools must be preserved, and there must be full consultation on plans for the future. | As a top priority, successful and popular schools must be preserved, and there must be full consultation on plans for the future. |
| Mr Knight says he wants to see more creative thinking, with councils perhaps forming federations of schools that can share staff and resources, or combining school sites with other services to reduce costs. | Mr Knight says he wants to see more creative thinking, with councils perhaps forming federations of schools that can share staff and resources, or combining school sites with other services to reduce costs. |
| Some campaigners believe that the government is behind the drive to close rural schools, so Mr Knight is anxious to stress that there has been no change in government policy - except to strengthen the law to prevent closures. | Some campaigners believe that the government is behind the drive to close rural schools, so Mr Knight is anxious to stress that there has been no change in government policy - except to strengthen the law to prevent closures. |
| Officials at the Department for Children, Schools and Families said primary pupil numbers had fallen by about 10% since 1999. | Officials at the Department for Children, Schools and Families said primary pupil numbers had fallen by about 10% since 1999. |
| Hundreds closed | Hundreds closed |
| HAVE YOUR SAYSmall village schools are much more part of the community than large schoolsPatrick, YorkshireSend us your comments | |
| Closures of rural schools increased in the 1970s to a peak of 127 in 1983, continuing at around 30 a year up to 1997. | Closures of rural schools increased in the 1970s to a peak of 127 in 1983, continuing at around 30 a year up to 1997. |
| In February 1998, the government had put in place a presumption against the closure of rural primary schools. | In February 1998, the government had put in place a presumption against the closure of rural primary schools. |
| They say that since then, the rate of closures had been reduced from an average of 30 a year to seven a year. | They say that since then, the rate of closures had been reduced from an average of 30 a year to seven a year. |
| However, figures on empty places also show a reduction of 386 in the total number of primary schools in England - more than one a day - between 2006 and 2007. | However, figures on empty places also show a reduction of 386 in the total number of primary schools in England - more than one a day - between 2006 and 2007. |
| The National Association for Small Schools this week acknowledged the worth of inter-school cooperation, and the success of formal federations that merge school and community identities. | The National Association for Small Schools this week acknowledged the worth of inter-school cooperation, and the success of formal federations that merge school and community identities. |
| But it added: "We do not support federation imposed by external agencies essentially to resolve administrative problems, and whose decisions are largely motivated by financial arguments that we expose as false. | But it added: "We do not support federation imposed by external agencies essentially to resolve administrative problems, and whose decisions are largely motivated by financial arguments that we expose as false. |
| "This is the single greatest threat to the nation's remaining small schools." | "This is the single greatest threat to the nation's remaining small schools." |
| Anti-closure campaigners also believe the government's plans to introduce services such as after-school clubs and childcare in "extended schools" doom small village schools. | Anti-closure campaigners also believe the government's plans to introduce services such as after-school clubs and childcare in "extended schools" doom small village schools. |