FUNDING has been awarded to help provide better links between small rural schools in Ceredigion and Powys.

The Welsh Government has announced funding of £2.5m across Wales as part of the small and rural schools grant with Ceredigion Council receiving £160,000 and Powys Council awarded £252,000.

The funding will go toward helping a string of small and rural schools to build links with 22 schools in Ceredigion benefiting by creating closer curriculum links and providing admin support for headteachers, and 20 schools in Powys to make better use of resources, as well as boosting IT facilities at some of the schools.

The money has been welcomed by the councils who have said it will be a boost to helping build closer partnership working between small schools.

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “We are very pleased that Welsh Government has been able to extend the small and rural schools fund for a further year.

“Being one of the most rural county councils in Wales, this fund is particularly relevant to us.

“We will be discussing with schools how this fund can best be used to counteract the challenges that small and rural schools face.”

Powys County Council’s Cabinet member for schools, Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, said: “The new Powys Schools Policy highlights the need for schools to work much more closely together and to use technology effectively therefore this grant funding is particularly welcomed as it aligns so closely to these objectives which we believe will help deliver top quality education for all of our pupils, wherever they live.”

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