Transformed service seeks new staff
SMALL SCHOOLS are at the heart of rural communities, campaigners have said, and their loss leaves for “fractured” villages.
Across the Yorkshire Dales, new figures show, the pupil roll at a number of schools is at very low levels with some operating at less than a quarter of capacity.
Just last week it was announced that three threatened schools, in West Burton, Bainbridge and Askrigg, are to be retained but will face “significant operational change”.
Now mother Nicky Rhodes, who became the face of a campaign to save small schools when she battled in vain to save one in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, has said more must be done to protect rural communities.
“We’ve lost everything in Horton,” she said. “We had two pubs, the shop closed a few years ago. We lost the school last year. There’s a feeling of loss, and fracture in Horton. I hope that what we went through can help other communities. They have to fight to keep what they have.”
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) confirmed last week that the trio of Wensleydale schools, which had faced an uncertain future over financial pressures and low pupil numbers, will remain open. But, it warned, it will have to look at options for change to ensure this is possible, such as the possibility of a reduced number of class groups across the three sites.
Richmond MP Rishi Sunak, who had lobbied alongside NYCC for a fairer funding settlement for the area, said changes to this were making a difference.
“Small rural schools are special but falling pupil numbers make it difficult to sustain a good-quality education,” he said. “Federations and school partnerships help and this week we have seen the benefits of the new national funding formula.”
While this may offer a glimmer of hope, Mrs Rhodes said more must be done to secure the future of all Dales’ schools in ensuring the area’s vitality.
“The Dales as a whole needs public money,” she said. “It needs infrastructure putting back in. The more remote you are, the more vulnerable you are.” The focus from
on the future of Dales communities, amid concerns raised by National Park chiefs, continues in-depth this week.
Tomorrow: The lack of infrastructure which is stifling the rural economy throughout the Yorkshire Dales.
Wednesday: Farming in crisis and the mounting pressures that are due to escalate for agriculture with Brexit. A YORKSHIRE council which was praised last week for transforming its services after a child sexual exploitation scandal held an event to recruit new staff this weekend.
Rotherham Council was given a ‘good’ Ofsted rating last week following a 2014 inspection which found widespread and serious failures of children in need of help.
On Saturday social workers were offered the chance to meet children’s service leaders at a special recruitment event.
Over the last two years Rotherham has led a campaign to recruit more permanent social workers. Changes have included lower caseloads, better management and more learning and development opportunities. Staff at the weekend showcased the last few remaining vacancies in children’s social care.