Downing Street has announced £10 million to improve teaching in four areas of the country where it says a lower-than-average proportion of pupils go to schools rated “good” or better by Ofsted.
More support is to be provided for education in Plymouth, Ashfield and Mansfield, South Sefton and North Liverpool, and North Durham and City, “to improve the quality of their teaching”, the government has announced today.
The government also announced an ”£18 million expansion” of the Opportunity Areas programme, which will run for a fifth year.
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Prime minister Boris Johnson has described these announcements as “levelling up in action”.
But a statement from Downing Street describing these initiatives as delivering “stronger schools” has been criticised by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), which instead dubbed them “piecemeal announcements”.
The prime minister’s office has said that schools in the four areas will also be encouraged to join multi-academy trusts “so pupils can benefit from being part of a strong group of schools that provide the best possible education”.
Downing Street said the £10 million being spent on supporting teaching and the £18 million for Opportunities Areas were both new funding announcements
But it has not explained, when asked by Tes, exactly which areas will benefit from the funding.
The government statement refers to four local authorities but some of those listed: Ashfield and Mansfield, South Sefton and North Liverpool, and North Durham and City are not actually the names of council areas.
Tes has also asked for clarification on what is meant by a sentence in the statement which says: “They will also be encouraged to join multi-academy trusts so pupils can benefit from being part of a strong group of schools that provide the best possible education,” as it does not specify which schools it is referring to.
On Opportunity Areas, the Downing Street statement added: “Funding will go to areas including Blackpool, Derby, Oldham and West Somerset, and could be used to help children improve in key subjects, such as maths and English; support pupils who are at risk of falling out of education; or give older students the confidence and skills to make the leap from school into work.”
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the ASCL, said: “While we welcome any commitment to education, it is slightly frustrating to see piecemeal announcements being portrayed as though they are a grand vision.
“Where is the big plan for our schools, colleges, children, and young people that delivers on the government’s rhetoric about ‘levelling up’ opportunities for all?
“It wasn’t in the Queen’s Speech, and it isn’t in this announcement either. The prime minister needs to set out a truly ambitious plan - and the Treasury needs to fund it.”
Mr Johnson said: “As the country gets back on its feet, the government has renewed its commitment to levelling up and tackling the issues that really matter to people.
“Making sure our children get the best possible education, transforming our town centres and correcting the regional imbalance of public sector roles - this is levelling up in action.
“Not only will we beat the pandemic and recover from its impact, I am determined to seize the opportunity it presents to create a fairer society, improve lives and build back better once and for all.”
