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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| 'Muddle' on rural school closures | 'Muddle' on rural school closures |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of muddle and hypocrisy over the closure of small rural schools. | The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of muddle and hypocrisy over the closure of small rural schools. |
| Campaigners say hundreds are under threat in council reorganisation plans. | Campaigners say hundreds are under threat in council reorganisation plans. |
| The schools minister is writing to local authorities in England reminding them there is a legal presumption against closing such schools. | The schools minister is writing to local authorities in England reminding them there is a legal presumption against closing such schools. |
| But government guidance issued last month also told them to close smaller schools and remove surplus places. | But government guidance issued last month also told them to close smaller schools and remove surplus places. |
| A fall in the birth rate some years ago has meant there are fewer children of school age. | A fall in the birth rate some years ago has meant there are fewer children of school age. |
| The Liberal Democrat spokesman David Laws said: "The government's policy on the closure of small schools is both confused and hypocritical." | 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 Shropshire protest He called on the Children, Schools and Families Secretary, Ed Balls, to make a statement to Parliament to clear up "this muddle". | 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 Shropshire protest He called on the Children, Schools and Families Secretary, Ed Balls, to make a statement to Parliament to clear up "this muddle". |
| "Today the schools minister is telling everyone that the closure of smaller schools is not on the government's agenda," he said. | "Today the schools 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'." | "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 | Parental choice |
| This Primary Strategy for Change document says the Department for Children, Schools and Families 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. | This Primary Strategy for Change document says the Department for Children, Schools and Families 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." | 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 commentsAuthorities 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." | "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. | 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. |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight is writing to councils telling them 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 writing to councils telling them they must take very seriously the statutory requirement in the 2006 Education Act that there is a presumption that rural schools will not close. |
| Alternatives | Alternatives |
| Mr Knight said: "This is not about funding. This is caused by falling birth rates coupled with families moving from rural to urban areas, which leaves some communities with falling numbers of pupils. | Mr Knight said: "This is not about funding. This is caused by falling birth rates coupled with families moving from rural to urban areas, which leaves some communities with falling numbers of pupils. |
| "Closing schools is a drastic last resort for councils. | "Closing schools is a drastic last resort for councils. |
| "It¿s unacceptable for them to propose closing popular, successful schools which parents want to send their children to, if they have not fully looked at alternative uses or consulted their communities." | |
| Alternatives included federating schools under one leadership team or housing other services in their buildings, such as playgroups. | Alternatives included federating schools under one leadership team or housing other services in their buildings, such as playgroups. |
| Officials at his department said primary pupil numbers had fallen by about 10% since 1999. | Officials at his department said primary pupil numbers had fallen by about 10% since 1999. |
| 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 has been reduced from an average of 30 a year to seven. | They say that since then, the rate of closures has been reduced from an average of 30 a year to seven. |
| New schools | New schools |
| 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. | 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 (8%) to 2,605. | The number of primary schools with fewer than 100 pupils has fallen by 219 (8%) to 2,605. |
| Shadow Children¿s Secretary Michael Gove said: "Back in 1998 Labour pledged to save small schools, but these figures tell a very different story." | |
| He said ministers were trying to shift the blame onto local authorities even though it was government rules that were contributing to the problem. | He said ministers were trying to shift the blame onto local authorities even though it was government rules that were contributing to the problem. |
| "We will change those rules so that good small schools can prosper and more new ones can open.¿ | |
| 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. | 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 such schools across the country could shut. | The National Association for Small Schools has claimed that between 100 and 300 such schools across the country could shut. |