Extra cash hope for small rural schools

The Government has launched a consultation on a new funding formula for schools which campaigners in parts of Yorkshire hope will narrow the gaps between the best and worst funded education authorities in the country.

Ministers want the new system to include a subsidy to take into account the extra costs of running smaller schools.

A Government report into school funding from 2010 to 2013 admits primary schools with less than 80 children cost 1,300 more per pupil to run than those with more than 150 pupils.

It says: "Development of partnership working between them is an important to their long term sustainability. The Government has signalled that it wants to see the small schools subsidy used for this purpose."

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has highlighted a project to employ a shared business manager between five schools in Withernsea – saving 116,000 – as an example of smaller schools working together.

Last month Yorkshire campaigners from the f40 group, which represents 40 of the worst funded education authorities in the country, called for more money to be given to schools serving sparsely populated areas at a Parliamentary enquiry into rural services.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls also revealed plans yesterday for more cash to go directly to schools teaching the poorest children through a "pupil premium".