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Northern Powerhouse report: Schools need urgent attention Northern Powerhouse report: Schools need urgent attention
(about 3 hours later)
"Urgent attention" must be given to improving education in the North of England, says George Osborne's Northern Powerhouse Partnership think tank."Urgent attention" must be given to improving education in the North of England, says George Osborne's Northern Powerhouse Partnership think tank.
In its first report since being set up last year, the think tank identifies what needs to be done to "build a Northern Powerhouse".In its first report since being set up last year, the think tank identifies what needs to be done to "build a Northern Powerhouse".
"Many issues have been raised with us," said the authors, "but one challenge stood out: education." "Many issues have been raised with us," said the authors, "but one challenge stood out: education."
Mr Osborne said the region was "at a turning point".Mr Osborne said the region was "at a turning point".
He set up the think tank last September to champion the ideas he had pursued as chancellor.He set up the think tank last September to champion the ideas he had pursued as chancellor.
'A new gear''A new gear'
Launching the report, Mr Osborne said: "We can either make use of the momentum behind the Northern Powerhouse to really close the North-South gap, or we can let the moment pass and leave our country divided and the North left behind," he added.Launching the report, Mr Osborne said: "We can either make use of the momentum behind the Northern Powerhouse to really close the North-South gap, or we can let the moment pass and leave our country divided and the North left behind," he added.
The report recommends urgent attention be given to improving the performance and aspiration of the North's schools and the quality of adult skills, along with better transport and broadband provision and more ambitious local decision making.The report recommends urgent attention be given to improving the performance and aspiration of the North's schools and the quality of adult skills, along with better transport and broadband provision and more ambitious local decision making.
The aim is to transform the economy of the North of England, said Mr Osborne.The aim is to transform the economy of the North of England, said Mr Osborne.
The initiative has already "shifted the North into a new gear", he said.The initiative has already "shifted the North into a new gear", he said.
"We can either make use of the momentum behind the Northern Powerhouse to really close the North-South gap - or we can let the moment pass and leave our country divided and the North left behind."We can either make use of the momentum behind the Northern Powerhouse to really close the North-South gap - or we can let the moment pass and leave our country divided and the North left behind.
"Get it right and the northern economy will be £100bn bigger, with more jobs and higher living standards for all.""Get it right and the northern economy will be £100bn bigger, with more jobs and higher living standards for all."
Ofsted's annual report , published in December, also identified poorly performing schools in the North and East Midlands as fuelling the sense of a divided nation.Ofsted's annual report , published in December, also identified poorly performing schools in the North and East Midlands as fuelling the sense of a divided nation.
The outgoing chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw warned then that the economic future of the North relied on addressing poor performance in some schools.The outgoing chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw warned then that the economic future of the North relied on addressing poor performance in some schools.
Mr Osborne said there was "overwhelming evidence that attainment at 16 is too low in the North, leaving us lagging behind the UK and international competitors".Mr Osborne said there was "overwhelming evidence that attainment at 16 is too low in the North, leaving us lagging behind the UK and international competitors".
The region loses 30,000 graduates a year, according to the report, as students from northern universities move away after graduating.The region loses 30,000 graduates a year, according to the report, as students from northern universities move away after graduating.
Mr Osborne said he would ask a group of leading employers and education leaders to work with the partnership "to put this right".Mr Osborne said he would ask a group of leading employers and education leaders to work with the partnership "to put this right".
In order to boost education and skills, the report recommends that the North works to:In order to boost education and skills, the report recommends that the North works to:
Northern Powerhouse Partnership board member Lord O'Neill agreed that improvements to infrastructure alone were not enough.Northern Powerhouse Partnership board member Lord O'Neill agreed that improvements to infrastructure alone were not enough.
"Something that also shines through in this report is that the education system in the North is not currently performing to its potential; in fact it is currently falling behind the South."Something that also shines through in this report is that the education system in the North is not currently performing to its potential; in fact it is currently falling behind the South.
"We need an education system that promotes and retains talent and we need to gain graduates, not lose them.""We need an education system that promotes and retains talent and we need to gain graduates, not lose them."
In response the government said it had launched the Northern Powerhouse Schools Strategy review and earmarked £70m to support educational improvement in the North.
"We have also named Scarborough, Oldham, Blackpool, Bradford and Doncaster as Opportunity Areas to benefit from additional funding and resources to promote social mobility," said a Department for Education spokesman.
But shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said the think-tank report was "all very well - but let's not forget that he was chancellor in a Tory government that presided over falling school budgets, a chronic teacher shortage and not enough good school places.But shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said the think-tank report was "all very well - but let's not forget that he was chancellor in a Tory government that presided over falling school budgets, a chronic teacher shortage and not enough good school places.
"The Tories' huge cuts to schools funding will hit schools in the North hard, making the problems highlighted in this report even worse."The Tories' huge cuts to schools funding will hit schools in the North hard, making the problems highlighted in this report even worse.
"The Northern Powerhouse means nothing unless the government is prepared to invest in education, skills and infrastructure.""The Northern Powerhouse means nothing unless the government is prepared to invest in education, skills and infrastructure."
And Anne Longfield, children's commissioner for England, urged the think tank to consider "why some parts of northern England have the best primary schools in the country, but lower attainment at secondary school and the lowest adult employment rates".And Anne Longfield, children's commissioner for England, urged the think tank to consider "why some parts of northern England have the best primary schools in the country, but lower attainment at secondary school and the lowest adult employment rates".
She promised that her own Growing Up North project, would suggest practical ways for the Northern Powerhouse to improve the lives of the region's children and young people.She promised that her own Growing Up North project, would suggest practical ways for the Northern Powerhouse to improve the lives of the region's children and young people.