TWENTY six schools in East Lancashire are at ‘serious risk’ of closure because of changes to the way they are funded, it has been warned.

Primary schools with 100 pupils or fewer could shut because of Government plans affecting how much money they are given, according to senior councillors, education officers and unions.

Headteachers have also warned the move could take away the heart of local communities and force children to travel long distances to alternative schools.

In total, 100 primary schools in Lancashire are under threat.

Under the current set-up, these schools receive top-up money from Lancashire County Council to pay for the expense of maintaining buildings, paying staff and buying equipment for a small number of pupils.

But under the new proposal this would stop and instead each child would be allocated a single sum of money, no matter what type of state school they attend.

This would leave small schools struggling to pay their bills.

Now the council, which will lobby the Government against the change, is to create a plan to try and prevent closures.

Steps are also underway to set up a £100,000 pot that smaller schools could access to cover simple costs such as building maintenance.

Unions fear that Lancashire would particularly suffer under the changes because the area has a large percentage of schools in rural areas.

Ken Cridland, secretary of Lancashire National Union of Teachers, NUT, said: “Small schools won’t manage on the new funding arrangement. All schools have fixed costs whether they are big or small.

“Bringing in this financial obligation will mean small schools won’t be able to survive and yet the Government is telling parents that they are in favour of them.

“If they are in favour of small schools they are making it very difficult by introducing this.”

Council opposition leader Jennifer Mein said: “It is a serious risk to smaller schools. There could be a point where the schools wouldn’t be financially viable.

“Some parents actively choose small and rural schools because that is what they want for their children.

“The government is saying they want there to be parental choice but changes to the funding would take that away.”

Headteachers said communities, parents and children would suffer as a result of the changes.

Judith Metcalfe, headteacher of St Mary’s RC Primary School, Osbaldeston, said: “David Cameron talks about the big society and that the local community should help each other.

“Schools are often in the heart of the community and a lot of the jobs in smaller schools go to people in them.

“In terms of transport and sustainability, if the school closes children will have to be transported to other schools. That could be an hour journey both ways. That is a long day for children.”

Peter Williams, headteacher of 50-pupil Altham St James CofE Primary School, said: "In small communities such as Altham, the school is one of the mainstays of the village and much of the community centres on it.

“Take away the school, and all that is left is the pub and the church - and the young in the community would suffer.

“There is much evidence to support the fact that small schools achieve equally good, and often better, academic results and social and emotional development as larger schools, so the question of small schools' survival is purely an economic one.

“The council has long had a good attitude to supporting small schools.

“I hope it will be able to convince Central Government of this so that we remain viable as vital components of village life."

Headteacher of Bacup St Saviour’s Community Primary School, Michelle Dodgson, said: “The community feel of a small school really attracted me to this school. It is like a large family. I know all of the children, all of the levels and know what they need to do to move up.

“Everything should be done to keep them open.”

County Councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for Children and Schools, said: "The county council's funding arrangements for schools include a number of elements that reflect the needs of the pupils in small schools, as well as the costs of providing education in these specific settings.

"The government is currently consulting on proposals that would simplify the funding arrangements for schools. These proposals would remove the council's ability to use a number of factors to determine the level of funding, including those that specifically relate to the needs of small schools.

"We are working with headteachers from small schools to make appropriate representations to government and to develop solutions that will continue to support viable and vibrant provision in rural communities.”

List of Lancashire schools with under 100 pupils which could be at risk.,

Kingsfold Primary School 100

Quernmore Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 100

Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Warton 100

St Edmund's Catholic Primary School 100

Howick Church Endowed Primary School 99

Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School

Bickerstaffe Voluntary Controlled Church of England School 96

Withnell Fold Primary School 94

Ormskirk Asmall Primary School 94

Singleton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 93

Woodplumpton St Anne's CofE Primary School 93

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 93

Salterforth Primary School 92

Barton St Lawrence Church of England Primary School 91

Forton Primary School 90

Blacko Primary School 90

St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Stacksteads, Bacup 89

Pilling St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 89

Newburgh Church of England Primary School 88

Arkholme Church of England Primary School 87

Our Lady and All Saints Roman Catholic Primary School, Parbold 86

Carnforth Christ Church, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School 86

Higher Walton Church of England Primary School 85

Bacup St Saviour's Community Primary School 84

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick 84

St John's Catholic Primary School, Burscough 83

Little Digmoor Primary School 83

Silverdale St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 83

Lea St Mary's Catholic Primary School 83

St Francis Catholic Primary School, Goosnargh 82

Scarisbrick St Mark's Church of England Primary School 79

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Medlar-with-Wesham 79

Nether Kellet Community Primary School 77

Sabden Primary School 77

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Osbaldeston 76

Westhead Lathom St James' Church of England Primary School 75

Heskin Pemberton's Church of England Primary School 74

St John with St Michael Church of England Primary School, Shawforth 73

Brabins Endowed School 72

Ribchester St Wilfrid's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 72

Mawdesley St Peter's Church of England Primary School 71

Abbey Village Primary School 70

St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, Mawdesley 69

Fishwick Primary School 69

Stalmine Primary School 68

Cockerham Parochial Church of England Primary School 67

Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 66

Richard Durning's Endowed Primary School 65

St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Hurst Green 64

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Sabden 64 Sharneyford Primary School 62

Green Haworth Church of England Primary School 62

Dolphinholme Church of England Primary School 60

Catforth Primary School 59

Goosnargh Whitechapel Primary School 58

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Withnell 58

Ingol Community Primary School 57

Rawtenstall Water Primary School 56

Dalton St Michael's Church of England Primary School 56

Samlesbury Church of England School 56

Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School 55

Wrightington Mossy Lea Primary School 53

Treales Church of England Primary School 53

Slaidburn Brennands Endowed Primary School 53

Weeton St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 53

Nateby Primary School 50

Tatham Fells Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 50

Wray with Botton Endowed Primary School 49

Altham St James Church of England Primary School 49

Scorton Church of England Primary School 47

Banks Methodist School 46

Grindleton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 44

Newchurch-in-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School 43

Yealand Church of England Primary School 43

Hornby St Margaret's Church of England Primary School 41

Burscough Bridge Methodist School 40

Crawford Village Primary School 39

St William's Catholic Primary School, Pilling 38

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Great Eccleston 37

Caton Community Primary School 36

Upholland Roby Mill CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 36

Leck St Peter's Church of England Primary School 36

Inskip St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided School 33

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Claughton-on-Brock 33

Downholland-Haskayne Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School 32

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping 32

Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School 30

Thurnham Glasson Christ Church, Church of England Primary School 30

Holmeswood Methodist School 29

Calder Vale St John Church of England Primary School 29

Cawthorne's Endowed School 29

Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, Dunsop Bridge 27

Roughlee Church of England Primary School 27

Ormskirk Lathom Park Church of England Primary School 26

Pinfold Primary School 24

Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 23

Melling St Wilfrid Church of England Primary School 23

Bleasdale Church of England Primary School 19

Out Rawcliffe Church of England Primary School 16

Winmarleigh Church of England Primary School 13