Rural and coastal UK schools struggle to engage with government interventions and can be left feeling educationally isolated

A report from academics at the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marjan University has revealed that rural and coastal schools can feel isolated from government support. Specifically, these schools struggle to access externally-funded educational interventions. The researchers concluded that urban schools having higher levels of connection to national funding schools than rural and coastal schools, which increases disparities in school funding. These schools are more likely to express isolation from initiatives aiming to improve social mobility, research and improvements. There is also an issue of recruitment within rural and coastal schools who struggle to attract a high quality workforce. The authors recommend to policymakers that reform should take place regarding priority areas and target schools. They further urge funding agencies and organisations to work with school leaders in isolated schools to increase awareness and understand how extra funding and support could be best utilised.