YP Letters: Not all small rural schools are doomed to shut

Horton-in-Ribblesdale School has been approved for closure.

MY gran was a bit of a sage and oft quoted ‘You can only be offended if you choose to be’ – a phrase which has stood me in good stead in 37 years of teaching, 27 as a a headteacher in small schools.

However, I must admit to being somewhat ‘miffed’ with your recent headline ‘Small schools at risk from funding crisis’.

The immediate assumption of most who saw it seemed to be, ‘We’re doomed!’

Now, I know Pete Dwyer well, and he doesn’t scare-monger. You did redeem yourself a little in the special report and Editorial but, nonetheless, can I set some things straight?

Not all small schools are under threat as the headline suggests. Small schools located some significant distance, geographically and topographically, from the next nearest primary school, are deemed to be super sparse and are, therefore, more likely to remain viable – under certain circumstances. Rosedale Abbey CP School is one of them.

Sensitive and mutually beneficial collaboration with colleagues and neighbouring schools is the key to continued success. We are not living in the past and we are confident about our future.