Education priority for rural areas say Church leaders

RURAL EDUCATION is a critical issue and a key priority for the church in the region, senior clergy have stressed, in the wake of calls for a national strategy over its future provision.

Earlier this week, the Church of England’s lead bishop for education warned proposed solutions nationwide were “insufficient” to safeguard the future of schools in rural areas. An “overarching rural strategy” was needed, the Bishop of Ely Stephen Conway said, for longer-term stability and over a recognition of the factors impacting on rural communities.

Now Bishop Jonathan, chairman of the Leeds’ Diocese education board, has said one option could be an independent review such as one already underway by the Prince’s Countryside Fund.

“We could almost do with a royal commission on the future of our rural communities,” he said. “It’s incredibly hard when a school closes. How can we provide the best possible education when a school becomes so small that we only have one or two children in a year group.

“At that point, difficult decisions do have to be made. We do everything we can to avoid that happening.”

Significant progress had been made at the summit, he added, and with submissions made from partners who attended including Defra, Ofsted, the National Farmers’ Union, and the Prince’s Countryside Fund.

Lord Agnew, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System also attended the summit, and the Department for Education has said he will now be considering the points made.

A Government spokesperson said: “With nearly a fifth of us living in the countryside it is important that the needs of rural communities are heard loud and clear across Government.

“Our shared commitment across Government departments is already coming to fruition, with nearly £500m invested to support rural businesses and generate more than 6,000 jobs. Five million premises are also now benefitting from the Government rollout of superfast broadband, and 140,000 affordable homes built in rural local authorities since 2011.”

PICTURE: BRUCE ROLLINSON. CHANGING PICTURE: Arkengarthdale, once appeared on television screens for the opening scenes of All Creatures Great and Small but as child numbers dwindle its school faces closure.