Surge in primary school mergers, but rural schools make up a small fraction

The number of primary school mergers almost doubled last year, but most were not small, rural schools.

Department of Education figures suggest its staffing change for small schools is not yet having the intended effect of making it easier for them to decide to amalgamate, even though the number of mergers rose significantly last year.

Cuts to the favourable teaching numbers for smaller schools are being phased in since Ruairi Quinn’s first budget as education minister in December 2011. In a phased implementation ending in September, he has increased the number of pupils needed by small schools to maintain current staff levels or to get an extra class teacher.