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'Muddle' on rural school closures 'Muddle' on rural school closures
(10 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.
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 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 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."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'.""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 choiceParental 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.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."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.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.""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.
"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. "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." 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.
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.
The number of primary schools with fewer than 100 pupils has fallen by 219 to 2,605, down 8%.
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.
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. Alternatives
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. Mr Knight told BBC Radio Five Live he wanted his letter to send a very strong signal to officers and councillors in the rural shires.
Officials at the Department for Children, Schools and Families said primary pupil numbers had fallen by about 10% since 1999. There were other options.
"Some local authorities approach this in a very sensible way and they look at what else can be done apart from closure because you can reduce capacity - there might be temporary classrooms you can take out, there might be that you can co-locate services."
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.
It says 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 has been reduced from an average of 30 a year to seven.
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. 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 National Association for Small Schools has claimed that between 100 and 300 schools across the country could shut. The number of primary schools with fewer than 100 pupils has fallen by 219 (8%) to 2,605.
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.