Tes reports this week on a joint report by Plymouth Marjon University and Plymouth University that called for ministers to review how schools bid for government support to improve access for isolated schools.

The report, after surveying 61 schools, found that schools in urban areas had ‘greater connectivity’ to national funding streams than rural and coastal schools which ‘was seen to exacerbate disparities in school funding’.

The research also found that schools isolated areas struggled to attract a high quality workforce and were more likely to feel excluded from government social mobility, research and improvement initiatives.

Recommendations for policymakers included advice such as: ‘work with rural and coastal school stakeholders, including the House of Lords Select Committees in these areas to acknowledge factors affecting educationally isolated school’s performance’.

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→ Schools Week - Rural and coastal schools feel isolated from government support, research finds