News story

29th April 2004

MP to Speak Out in Support of South Gloucestershire's Small Schools

Northavon MP Steve Webb has secured a debate at Westminster next week (Wednesday 5th May) on the subject of small schools. The idea of seeking the debate came to the MP when he visited recently two of the smallest schools in South Gloucestershire—Oldbury on Severn CE Primary, and Horton CE Primary and saw for himself the unique education that they provide.

With small schools inevitably costing more to run than larger schools, cash-strapped local authorities are inevitably under pressure to review the future of such schools, but the MP will argue that they have a vital part to play in the range of choices that are offered to parents. He will call on the Government to do more to make it easier for local authorities like South Gloucestershire, which have a lot of small village schools, to protect and support such schools.

Speaking in advance of the debate, Steve Webb said:

“One of the special features of our area is the small village schools which provide a unique educational experience for children. Such schools are greatly prized by their own village and form a community where children of different ages work together and take responsibility for each other.

"The staff, parents and governors at such schools very often go well beyond the call of duty to make sure that these schools prosper, whether by helping to maintain the schools, in fund-raising or in other ways. I hope that this debate will help the Government to see the importance of small schools and that they will do more to see that such schools have a bright future”.

The debate will take place at 4pm on Wednesday 5th. Steve Webb will have around 15 minutes to make his case and a minister from the Department for Education and Skills will have a further 15 minutes to respond.