Major rural schools review to take place in Northumberland

The review has been sparked by the recent decisions by governors to seek the closures of Milfield First School, where pupil numbers had dropped to seven, and Chatton First school, where numbers fell to eight. It will investigate the impact of population trends on demand for school places in both rural and urban areas, as falling rolls are common to both.

This week the county council's family and children's services overview and scrutiny committee will agree the scope of the review, which will be led by committee chairman Richard Dodd - who is also regional director of the Countryside Alliance.

Yesterday Coun Dodd said: "Since we agreed to close Milfield First School because of falling pupil numbers I have realised that there are an awful lot more schools potentially heading for the same precipice. This is a problem for both rural and urban schools, but it is symptomatic of the massive decline of rural areas.

"In rural areas there are less working families, fewer farmworkers and fewer children. Schools are paid per head of pupils and if numbers are falling we have got problems. In general, the more remote a school is the higher the risk of closure.

"The review will aim to find out how big this problem is, in terms of shifts of population out of the countryside, and look at whether we have too many schools. It is time we had a look at this, otherwise we will be trying to put the fire out rather than prevent it starting."

Coun Dodd said the review would look into whether the provision of rural business parks and the construction of live/work houses would help bolster rural schools and communities by attracting working families.

A county council spokeswoman said: "This review is in response to a general trend of fewer children in the system overall. In light of the closures of Milfield and Chatton First Schools we want to do everything possible to protect schools in Northumberland."

Members of the review working group will collect evidence about population trends and school rolls, and produce a report and findings within six months.

The review will seek to identify trends in demand for school places, pinpoint schools at risk of closure and highlight strategies and actions which can support the future sustainability of schools and communities.

Key lines of inquiry will include predictions of likely school numbers, whether there are alternative methods of school organisation and help schools to develop 'survival packages'.