This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/7216221.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Warning on rural school closures 'Muddle' on rural school closures
(40 minutes later)
The government is reminding England's local authorities that, by law, they should not be closing rural schools. The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of muddle and hypocrisy over the closure of small rural schools.
A letter is being drafted to go to all councils, amid a lobbying campaign against small school closures. Campaigners say hundreds are under threat in council reorganisation plans.
Rural MPs are due to meet ministers on Wednesday to press their case that small schools are part of the lifeblood of rural communities. The schools minister is writing to local authorities in England reminding them there is a legal presumption against closing such schools.
Reorganisations prompted mainly by a fall in the birth rate have put hundreds of schools under threat. But government guidance issued last month also told them to close smaller schools and remove surplus places.
The Liberal Democrat spokesman David Laws said: "The government's policy on the closure of small schools is both confused and hypocritical."
It is also accepted that in order to preserve access for young children, there may be more empty places in schools in rural areas than in urban areas Government guidance He called on the Children, Schools and Families Secretary, Ed Balls, to make a statement to Parliament to clear up "this muddle".
"Today the school's minister is telling everyone that the closure of smaller schools is not on the government's agenda," he said.
"However, government guidance issued to local authorities just one month ago makes clear that ministers expect local authorities to close smaller schools and remove surplus places as a 'priority'."
Parental choice
This Primary Strategy for Change document, published on 6 December, says the Department for Children, Schools and Families particularly expects to see decisive plans for early action to ensure that no school has more than 25% surplus places and to reduce overall surplus places to less than 10% in each area.
However it also says: "It will not always be practicable, or desirable, to remove all surplus places."
HAVE YOUR SAYSmall village schools are much more part of the community than large schoolsPatrick, YorkshireSend us your comments and picturesAuthorities should allow for parental choice, among other things.
"It is also accepted that in order to preserve access for young children, there may be more empty places in schools in rural areas than in urban areas."
But Mr Laws said local authorities were being told that unless they followed the government's blueprint, they would not get the money for new or refurbished primary schools.
"The government is also instructing local authorities to close or rebuild around 1 in 20 schools in the worst physical condition - this will often include older schools in rural areas.
"Policy on smaller schools should be determined by children's needs, not by central government diktat."
Fewer schoolsFewer 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 Schools Minister Jim Knight was set to tell councils they must take very seriously the statutory requirement in the 2006 Education Act that there was a presumption that rural schools would 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
HAVE YOUR SAYSmall village schools are much more part of the community than large schoolsPatrick, YorkshireSend us your comments and pictures
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.
It says that since then, the rate of closures had been reduced from an average of 30 a year to seven a year.It says that since then, the rate of closures had been reduced from an average of 30 a year to seven a year.
Pressure
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 has claimed that between 100 and 300 schools across the country could shut, with pressure on councils not only to cut the number of spare places but also not to have too many schools. The National Association for Small Schools has claimed that between 100 and 300 schools across the country could shut.
It has acknowledged the worth of inter-school cooperation and formal federations.
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."
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.