APPENDIX 2
Memorandum submitted by Bath and North
East Somerset Local Education Authority (T2)
Bath and North East Somerset LEA wishes to express,
in the strongest terms, its opposition to "rural proofing"
education policy.
At a time when local authorities are scrutinised
on their ability to achieve Best Value, there is no rational basis
in pursuing a policy which ensures that rural schools remain open
regardless of local circumstances and, more importantly what is
in the best interests of the children living in rural communities
in terms of their educational needs.
No school has an automatic right to exist. In
Bath and North East Somerset we believe that schools can be too
big and, equally, schools can be too small. Some schools will
cease to be viable due to demographic changes. There are sound
educational reasons to avoid classes which cover too great an
age range and where each child's peer group is too small to provide
sufficient stimulation for successful learning.
This LEA has identified "strategic rural
schools" where we recognise that the journey to an alternative
school could be too far for young children. We recognise that
these schools are likely to be small and require additional resources.
It is far better to target resources on these schools and the
provision of free transport for the children than to support a
policy whereby rural schools are maintained regardless of the
standards achieved and the extent to which children in larger
schools subsidise their upkeep.
The Committee could, perhaps, discuss whether
there should be a financial contribution from DEFRA towards the
cost of maintaining rural schools where this is done in pursuit
of protecting rural areas as opposed to meeting the educational
needs of the children living in such areas.
It would be useful for the Committee to comment
on the requirement for local authorities to publish information
on the number of surplus places maintained. Local authorities
are, on one hand, being pressed to reduce the number of surplus
places but, on the other hand, seemingly being pressed to maintain
them in rural areas. Government could provide a more consistent
approach to those indicators on which judgements are made on local
authorities' performance.
We are more than willing to explore more innovative
ways of small schools working collaboratively and believe that
the Government could target more resources to this end. It is
very rare for rural communities to trigger any of the additional
resources made available to city areas where there is greater
evidence of social deprivation.
9 January 2003
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