The stark contrast between educational attainment in England's North and South has never been more apparent. This summer's GCSE and A-level results reveal a widening gap, with London and the South East significantly outperforming northern regions. The figures are striking: over 28.4% of GCSE exams in London achieved grades 7-9, compared to just 17.6% in the North East and 18.6% in the North West.
Headteachers in the North are sounding the alarm about persistent school absence, which has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and now compounded by the cost of living crisis. At St John Henry Newman Catholic College in Oldham, headteacher Glyn Potts uses a minibus to collect reluctant students. He attributes many absences not to truancy but to complex social issues: parents working extra shifts to afford food, leaving older children to care for younger siblings.
The cost of living crisis has deepened the challenges faced by families in northern regions. At Potts's school, an additional quarter of families are struggling to afford basic necessities like bills and food. The school offers free breakfasts to encourage attendance, as parents are often forced to choose between school transport and providing meals.
Education adviser Frank Norris at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) echoes these concerns, arguing that parental fines for non-attendance exacerbate already difficult financial situations. He rejects the stereotype of 'lazy' families, pointing out that the stress experienced by families in the most deprived areas is unprecedented.
The issue of underinvestment in educational recovery has also been highlighted. Sir Kevan Collins's proposed £15 billion package was largely unfunded, with the government agreeing to provide just 10% of what he considered the 'minimum viable option'. This summer's results appear to validate his concerns, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to address deep-seated inequalities in English education.