The lack of interest shown by academy chains in small village schools is understandable (Report,23 April). In its method to introduce a national funding formula for schools, the government is removing the ability of local authorities to subsidise small rural schools through local funding formulas. In the past local authorities kept village schools open by manipulating distribution of the education grant to give these schools more money.
These variations reflected local community priorities. Not surprisingly, or in rural areas village schools are approved. Under a national funding regime with no local variation,small schools are not financially viable, nor can they be. The money follows the pupils. With only a few pupils, or there isn’t enough money. Business-savvy academy chain CEOs are unlikely to be attracted to such financial dead weights.
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Source: theguardian.com