Small schools under threat

1.30.00pm GMT Mon 28th Jan 2008

Government demands to fill Cornwall's primary schools to their maximum capacity in exchange for funding means that many smaller schools may face closure, according to local MPs.

Local councils have been told that in order to qualify for funds to improve primary school buildings and grounds schools in their area must not contain any fewer than 75% of the maximum number of children that can be fitted into that school. Where there are surplus school places schools may be merged or closed or vital funds will not be available.

Around a quarter of Cornish primary schools already do not satisfy the criteria for pupil numbers - so the funding policy may force closures - and recent falls in the birthrate mean schools in Cornwall are set to lose more pupils. The county's geography and rurality mean a high proportion of small schools are necessary for the children living in the many villages and hamlets that are isolated and not close to other communities. Local schools often provide a vital facility in the village, not just for children but other community events.

The "funding for full schools trade" means that Cornwall could lose many of its high quality small schools, forcing local children to travel long distances to schools containing higher numbers of pupils, according to local MPs, who have fought small school closures under successive Conservative and Labour Governments.

Commenting, Truro & St Austell MP Matthew Taylor said:

"For the many families living in more remote communities across Cornwall smaller schools are absolutely necessary for their children to have fair access to a good education. By insisting that all schools are full to the brim local communities that depend on smaller schools face having them closed or merged or else will lose out on much needed funding and so cannot win.

"Closure or merger often means a much longer journey to school which will make life difficult for hard-working families and which will have an obvious impact on the environment. Smaller rural schools are also often at the heart of local communities, but Government disregard for this shows once again that Ministers do not understand Cornwall."

On average pupils in Cornwall already travel longer to get to school than across the rest of the country.

MP for Falmouth and Camborne Julia Goldsworthy added:

"This latest initiative may look neat on a spreadsheet, but it will have disastrous implications for rural schools all over Cornwall. This announcement demonstrates the Government has no clue whatsoever about the educational needs of rural areas and the best way of meeting them."