Julian Smith, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, has welcomed the news that Nidderdale High School and Upper Wharfedale School will be asked to give their views to a national review of education funding allocation to rural schools.
The news follows a meeting Julian had with the Schools Minister David Laws, in which he raised the concerns the schools have about funding and their future sustainability. Julian has been working at Westminster and in North Yorkshire to address the issue.
The two schools will be invited to have their say on the impact the ‘sparsity’ element of the school funding formula, introduced to support schools in rural areas.
The MP said:
“Rural schools are so important to their local communities and it is important that they have a strong and sustainable future.
“I have been working hard at Westminster and in North Yorkshire on this issue since the concerns were raised by Nidderdale High and Upper Wharfedale Schools. I am pleased the Schools Minister has agreed to include their views in the review of rural school funding.”