Government to launch £24m programme for North East education

Opportunities and job prospects for young people in the North East are set to be addressed by a multi-million pound government investment.

Its aim is to boost social mobility and raise aspirations for children. It is to be announced today (October 8) by education secretary, Damian Hinds.

Launching Opportunity North East, the education secretary has pledged £24m to tackle issues holding young people from all communities back.

While the region is said to have some of the best performing primary schools in the country, secondary school performance is significantly below other regions. Fewer 18-year-olds attend the country’s top universities than those from other parts of the country, too.

Some of the issues that are being addressed include: Investing £12m to improve the transition from primary to secondary education; and working with secondary schools and colleges to encourage people to consider university, degree apprenticeships.

A further £12m also aims to boost early career training for new teachers and help improve the quality of teaching and raise standards in the region’s schools.

Today’s announcement is part of a government scheme to improve education and boost productivity in the North of England, and follows on from investment in the Northern Powerhouse strategy.

Opportunity North East will tackle issues that are specific to the North East, which had the lowest percentage of young people going to top universities in 2017.

Edward Twiddy, chief innovation officer at Durham-based Atom bank, said: “Atom bank is delighted to offer its wholehearted support to this exciting and very welcome initiative.

“As a business with national ambitions but founded and headquartered in the North East, Atom is determined to be a positive influence across the region.

“We are especially focused on enhancing opportunities and education for young people growing up in the region.”

The announcement of more support to recruit and retain talented teachers comes after the government launched a free website for schools to advertise vacancies - which currently costs schools up to £75m a year - with schools in the North East and Cambridgeshire given access to the site ahead of a nationwide launch.

Andrew Hodgson, chair for North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), added: “The North East LEP is committed to reducing the gap between our best and lowest performing secondary schools and to improving social mobility for our young people.

“It’s this disparity that we are tackling by supporting teachers, governors, schools and leaders. Ensuring the next generation has a clear pathway to achieving their full potential is a fundamental part of our Strategic Economic Plan.”

The Education Secretary will also visit Durham University to hear more about its proposals to open the region’s first maths schools to offer specialist teaching.