High rural house prices ‘are driving away school teachers’

RISING HOUSE prices and limited career paths are driving new school teachers away from rural areas, an education chief has warned.

Judith Kirk, the assistant director of education and skills at North Yorkshire County Council, admitted that a growing number of skilled graduates were being drawn to more built-up areas for better work opportunities.

It has meant North Yorkshire – which has the most rural schools in England – is spending up to £560,000 on supply teachers every school term.

In a report to the council’s young people overview and scrutiny committee, Mrs Kirk said: “This has a knock-on effect – with house prices around the picturesque villages being above average. Housing is out of the price range for graduates and young people preventing them access to the property ladder.”

A total of 51 primary schools in North Yorkshire have fewer than 50 students.

Mrs Kirk added: “The majority of our smallest schools are in rural areas, many of which are generally seeing a decline in pupil population, in stark contrast to our urban centres where growth is typically the norm, largely as a result of new housing.

“Changes in pupil numbers, particularly for small schools, can require schools to take action to remain financially sustainable, although funding is lagged, which provides some limited time to adjust.”

The council has run relocation and recruitment incentives to try to attract teachers and their families to rural areas. The drive has included reimbursements for stamp duty, estate agency fees and moving costs.