Rural and small schools are “particularly vulnerable” to falling pupil rolls, experts warn, as the number of children born in some affluent parts of Yorkshire drops by over a third.

An inquiry was launched this week amid concerns that "significantly" fewer children are starting primary school - and alongside fears over the impact this could have.

Now, analysis by The Yorkshire Post reveals an even-more worrying dip in birthrates, with the number of babies born in York as the region’s most expensive city dropping 37 per cent since 2013.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said falling rolls are a "real issue" in parts of the country, with fewer babies born in some affluent areas.

Children skip and play hop scotch during playtime. Image: PA

placeholder image — Children skip and play hop scotch during playtime. Image: PA

"In some areas, including London, the higher cost of living is forcing families to move to less expensive areas, reducing the pool of prospective pupils," he warned.

A cross-party inquiry was announced this week into falling primary school rolls, as findings from this newspaper outline a changing picture across parts of Yorkshire.

Alongside York, the birthrate in Calderdale has dipped by 30 per cent since 2013, while the number of children born in Hull, Kirklees and Leeds has all fallen by more than a fifth.

Wakefield and Rotherham have seen the smallest drop, but this is still at 10 and 13 per cent respectively.

Rising house prices, childcare costs, and mounting pressures from the rising cost of living could all partly be to blame, with attention fixed firstly on the impact on primary schools.

More research is needed into what is driving this "demographic decline", members of the NAHT have previously warned, alongside measures to mitigate the impact on schools.

Where the number of primary age pupils is falling, Mr Whiteman told The Yorkshire Post, it puts pressure on schools' finances.

Staffing suddenly doesn't match the number of children on the roll, affecting curriculum breadth - and schools’ viability. Small and rural schools are "especially vulnerable", he said.

“Successive governments have encouraged competition between schools when it comes to pupil admissions," he added.

"We need an approach to school funding that supports schools experiencing falling rolls and recognises that trends can change over time."

The House of Lords Public Services Committee is now to examine changing demand for places, why this may be, and what can be done to mitigate it.

Lord Bradley, committee chair, said: “The number of children enrolled in primary school has been on the decline for several years with current projections showing more significant decline in primary school rolls in the future.

“We know that there is considerable concern about the risks associated with the falling primary school rolls because of the potential impact on financial stability of schools, especially when funding is usually based on pupil numbers, families, and communities."