THE fear for the future of rural schools is nothing new, as dwindling class sizes and problems with recruiting teachers have been a problem for many years nationally and especially in the Yorkshire Dales.

Many schools in Swaledale and Wensleydale have clubbed together to form federations, with two or three sites sharing headteachers and resources, and enable children to learn with their own age-group rather than with several year groups merged.

The move to make all schools academies has been slowed, but a top primary school advisor in North Yorkshire said when it does come into force it could be disastrous for rural schools.

The demise of a village school can lead to the death of a whole community, as young families could be tempted to move away for better education provision, so it is understandable why parents would want to cling to what they have.

Proposals by the headteacher of West Burton Primary School in Wensleydale, which is in a federation with Askrigg and Bainbridge primary schools, to move all the key stage two pupils to the Askrigg site, leaving just 10 youngsters at West Burton, have now been challenged by a petition by concerned parents.

They fear it will spell the end of the school because parents may move children to a bigger school, but headteacher Charlotte Harper hopes the move will keep the school open and would help address a financial deficit in the federation’s budget.

Surely any move to keep village schools vibrant and effective places of learning is a good one, and it seems the parents of West Burton Primary School have outlined an alternative plan to create a single key stage two class at Askrigg, and retain the counterpart class in West Burton.

They say it will be cheaper, and ensure that young families stay in the village. The petition and alternative plan is on the table and it can only be hoped everyone’s view is taken into consideration.