WENSLEYDALE School is a small school. This brings many benefits but it also means that there are funding issues which will mean that at Post 16, in particular, the school cannot offer the same number of courses that a larger establishment such as Richmond or Darlington’s Queen Elizabeth can (D&S Times, Nov 13 and subsequent issues).

The school should aim to provide a route into university education by offering the traditional A levels. However, it should also cater for some of the 50 per cent or so of students who will not choose to follow this route by providing vocational courses linked to the key industries of the area e.g. agriculture, tourism and hospitality.

In this way the school is providing a link into employment in these areas and reducing the need for students to travel long distances or stay away from home in order to study.

The school should aim to be a centre of excellence in both academic and vocational education and should be prepared to invest the necessary resources in order to achieve that.

Initially, this may mean seeking alternative sources of funding, such as grants, particularly those aimed at rural areas, or sponsorship from the local businesses who will ultimately gain from a well-educated local workforce.

However, in the long term it could become self-sustaining by attracting students from the many local secondary schools who do not provide such courses. This will bring extra funds into the school and increase the viability of Post 16 provision.

At present many Year 11 students opt to leave the school in order to study land-based courses at Askham Bryan and Newton Rigg. The school could work in partnership with these colleges and develop links with local farmers and landowners, so that the needs of many students could be met locally.

Until very recently the school ran its own farm. The benefits of this were huge and were not simply restricted to providing the resources for students to study agriculture.

It was a unique selling point and featured prominently in the Open Evening for year 6 students, in taster days and visits and as part of the Summer Fayre.

It produced lamb, pork and eggs to sell in the local community.

It provided a reason to come to school for a number of vulnerable students.

It gave an insight into agriculture for students from families who were not directly connected with farming and allowed students who came from a farming background to share their knowledge and expertise with their peers.

It was a great place to unwind and de stress for staff and students alike.

It could and should be reinstated to be at the heart of this rural school once more.

Claire Seaborne, former Chemistry teacher, parent, Hunton, Bedale