NORTH Cotswold primary schools are leading a revolt against a massive hike in broadband charges that could threaten the future of some rural schools.

Schools, including Stow Primary School, Temple Guiting Cof E Primary, St Catharine’s RC Primary in Chipping Campden and St David’s in Moreton, face six or seven-fold increases and are withholding payment.

The increase follows a decision by Gloucestershire Schools Forum to divide broadband costs equally between schools so that each school pays the true cost of the service they receive from the South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL). Last year, costs were shared between all county schools.

Schools have also been told they cannot use technology grants to offset the cost of the service.

Rebecca Scutt, headteacher at the 120-pupil Stow Primary School, which faces a bill of more than £7,000 a year compared to only £1,200 last year, described the charges as “extortionate”.

She said to make matters worse her school was getting a 2Mb service compared to schools in Cheltenham and Gloucester, getting a 10Mb service.

“We are paying more for a lesser service. We are due to pay for it now but we aren’t going to pay it until best value is achieved,” she added.

Mike Sessarego, headteacher of the 152-pupil St Catharine’s in Campden, is also refusing to pay the bill.

“We will go into deficit this year because of this, which is a very serious thing. We will dig our heels in for as long as we can.”

Temple Guiting School head David Ogden hopes a crisis meeting called by the county council for heads and governors at Hucclecote next Tuesday will offer hope, with a relaxation of the rules on the use of grants to help fund the increases.

“There are massive charges that are unjustifiable,” said Mr Ogden, whose school faces a £7,500 bill. “It could mean the closure of some rural schools.”

Meanwhile, St David’s School in Moreton faces a £13,000 bill.

Gloucestershire County Council spokeswoman Sarah Wood said the authority was “brokering discussions” between schools to allow them to swap capital and revenue grant funding with each other, which could go some way to meeting any additional costs.