12 May 2000
The co-operation could help to improve standards and reduce the isolation felt by many teachers and pupils, as well as allow more resources to be shared.
Speaking at the launch of the LGA report, Education in rural communities, on May 9, education minister Jacqui Smith said the government was determined to save small schools. She said: 'With the new guidelines we introduced two years ago, we have got the number of closures down from 30 a year to an average of four a year.' She added that small schools were the 'lifeblood of local communities'.
PFmay2000
