EDM: Safeguarding rural schools

Safeguarding rural schools

Tabled by Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat) 16 signatures

The motion

That this House celebrates the vital role rural schools play in sustaining village life, supporting families, strengthening local identity and providing equitable access to education; notes that temporary fluctuations in pupil numbers are common in rural areas and should not alone justify permanent closure; expresses concern that the loss of rural schools removes essential community infrastructure, reduces local educational choice, weakens social cohesion and forces families to travel further at additional cost and inconvenience; further notes that proposed changes to home-to-school transport policies in Warwickshire risk compounding these pressures by leaving many rural families without safe routes or adequate transport support; believes that local authorities should work constructively with rural communities to support school viability and explore solutions that avoid irreversible closures; calls on Warwickshire County Council to better understand the particular challenges facing rural schools when making decisions about their future; and highlights the important contribution of village schools such as Great Alne Primary in Stratford-on-Avon constituency, urging Warwickshire County Council to support the school and work with the community to secure its long-term future rather than pursuing closure.

Signatories (16)