SMALL rural schools have been given a pledge of support to help them face up to the problems their size and isolation causes.

The important role they continue to play has been endorsed in a study carried out by a working group set up by North Yorkshire County Council.

Their report has identified a number of methods some schools have adopted which could be used elsewhere in the county.

And they include working together in formal federations or informal clusters, to make the best use of each school's resources.

Because of its vast rural nature, North Yorkshire has many small schools serving rural communities and more than 160 of them have fewer than 100 pupils.

But they are facing a number of challenges in the future - including falling school rolls and difficulties in recruiting key staff, in particular headteachers.

Additionally, they face financial constraints as they are more expensive to operate than the much larger schools.

The working group was chaired by Upper Dales councillor John Blackie and its report has now been endorsed by the county council's executive.

Its recommendations included encouraging small schools to develop their strengths by innovative working and providing professional assistance for any small schools interested in joining forces.

They also pledged to support continued research into best practice and commit to future funding.

Coun Blackie said: "Our study has highlighted the importance of innovation and the key role the county council has in supporting and funding such work.

"In a rural area like North Yorkshire, only the county council has the resources and expertise that is needed."

The executive member for education, Coun Chris Metcalfe, said the study had proved very useful in their approach to small rural schools.

He said: "Many achieve a great deal for pupils and we're committed to helping them do even better - after all, children have only one chance at education."

Coun John Fletcher, chairman of the authority's young people's scrutiny committee, said: "The study is a starting point for tackling many of the issues faced by small schools and helping them to achieve an excellent education for all pupils."