Education leaders in the North East today called on Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to get behind plans for a schools-led improvement initiative to drive up standards in the region.

The call came in the wake of comments today by the Secretary of State to the Education Select Committee that she believes addressing geographical disparities in education is the top priority for her tenure. 

SCHOOLS NorthEast, which runs a network for all 1,250 schools from Berwick to Saltburn, said the Minister should actively engage in efforts to develop a region-wide schools improvement programme.

Mike ParkerMike Parker, Director of SCHOOLS NorthEast, said: “Nicky Morgan is right to see regional disparities in education as the priority. The impact on young people’s lives and the benefits to the regional economy are obvious.

“North East schools have a clear plan for how a step change in performance can be achieved. We need the Government to actively engage and back a programme of schools-led change. This will increase leadership standards and capacity, attract more quality teaching talent to the region, enable struggling schools to get more help from exemplar academic institutions and firmly embed schools/business engagement.”

Mike also stressed the need to recognise that schools are only one element of the solution to reducing regional inequality.

He said: “There are many touch points during a young person’s life that make them who they are. Parents play an enormous role in supporting and developing children and firing their aspirations. Likewise, a vibrant and thriving economy offering strong career opportunities inspires schoolchildren to reach for greater heights.

“As a region we are all responsible for creating an environment for our children that promotes learning and aspirations. We have to address early years education and adult literacy issues as an urgent priority to ensure all children start school with the basic building blocks in place to learn from day one and to have the parental support throughout school life.”