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The think tank, Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, publish an annual analysis of the performances of public services The 2019 Performance Tracker finds that for the first time in years, the Government...
The Guardian and The Times report that the number of small schools in England has halved since 1980 Small schools in rural and village environments are twice as likely to have closed than in urban areas. According to...
The Telegraph reports that urban schools make more of an effort to teach pupils about gardening than their rural counterparts. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has said this is because children in cities are less likely to have green...
Schools Minister Lord Agnew has said that the Government should not pour money into ‘inefficient’ schools, according to Tes Addressing the Confederation of Schools Trusts’ summer conference last week, he said that schools ‘must get their houses in order’...
Schools Week and the Big Issue this week report on results that show that children in rural areas on free school meals score lower in tests than their urban peers on free school meals. Pupils from poor families in...
The Yorkshire Post has today published a letter calling for ‘desperately’ needed help for the area’s rural schools. Falling pupil numbers have been blamed for a loss of funding which has left many primary and even secondary schools struggling...
Tes reports this week on a new study from the Department for Education that finds even ‘successful’ small rural primary schools are still struggling to overcome financial difficulties, and facing challenges recruiting staff and delivering a broad curriculum. The...
Tes and the Shropshire Star report that rural schools are facing critical budget deficits because of the Government’s National Funding Formula. In Yorkshire a survey of 38 schools found that 76 per cent had concerns about balancing their budgets...
Last week the Government announced that more than 100 rural primary schools around England are set to get super-fast broadband connections in the next few months. The story was reported by publications such as Tes, PublicTechnology.net and Christian Today....
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,...
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Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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