Village values
Our village schools play a vital role in our local communities. They offer parents choice and a reason for young families to stay. Yet this weekend, it was reported that 300 village schools across the country are being targeted for closure as part of cost-cutting measures. This will have a devastating impact on local communities.
Despite the Government promising to protect small schools, there has been a significant reduction in the past decade.
Official figures show that 219 schools with fewer than 100 pupils have closed since 1997. Many have been in rural areas. At the same time, the number of primary schools with more than 400 pupils had risen by almost a third.
Small schools provide an excellent education so instead of closing them we should be doing everything we can to support them. The Government have tried to shift the blame on any possible closures on to local authorities. Yet poor Government funding for rural areas is playing a major part in these decisions.
It is yet another example of a Government that has a complete lack of understanding of the rural way of life. They have little regard for genuine local communities which do have close ties and bonds.
Thankfully, Suffolk County Council has pledged to protect the future of Suffolk’s village schools. But our Post Offices are under enormous threat. We receive poor public investment in transport, education and health compared to urban areas.
The rural way of life in Britain is under threat as never before. The Government should remember that not everyone lives in a big city with easy access to essential services. Our small towns and villages need them too.