Kids in deprived areas promised £60m cash boost for schools. mentoring and careers advice
Six struggling areas will get the funding to help disadvantaged kids get on
BRITAIN’S economic blackspots will get a £60million cash injection in a bid to unlock opportunities for the poorest, the Education Secretary declared yesterday.
Justine Greening announced the nationwide drive to boost the chances for youngsters in the six most deprived areas of the UK where the most disadvantaged find it tough to get on.
The scheme will be trialled in West Somerset, Norwich, Blackpool, Scarborough, Derby and Oldham with four other areas introduced later.
Ms Greening said they wanted to give kids "the best start in life, no matter what their background".
Better teacher support and improved schools are in the programme along with careers advice, mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities.
Ms Greening said: "Opportunity areas will help local children get the best start in life, no matter what their background.
"Ensuring all children can access high-quality education at every stage is critical.” It came as Ms Greening vowed there would be no return to the 11 plus entrance exam.
Speaking at Tory conference in Birmingham, Ms Greening said there would be no fixed age for children to sit the test.
Defending the much criticised policy announced by Theresa May she said: "We all know children develop at different speeds, so let's be flexible on which age children can go to grammars.
"So let's be clear - this is not about a return to the eleven plus." And she trained her fire on Labour figures who have attacked the policy – while sending their own children to selective schools.
Ms Greening described their stance as “rank hypocrisy” saying new grammars would help “level the playing field” giving poorer pupils better opportunities.
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But while Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner welcomed the new investment, she warned a new generation of grammar schools would undermine social mobility.
She said: "Any new investment into disadvantaged communities is welcome, but the truth is that grammar schools fail the vast majority of children.
"The Tories cannot provide any evidence that new grammar schools will aid social mobility for children from the most disadvantaged communities.”
And Social Mobility Commission chairman Alan Milburn added: "There is a new geography of disadvantage in Britain - where the chances of a child doing well in life depends massively on where they come from, rather than where they aspire to get to.
"If social mobility is to take off, much more needs to be done to create a level playing field of opportunity in our country. That requires action in the labour market, in regional policy and in education.” Last night Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the Sutton Trust said he welcomed plans to tackle poor social mobility in opportunity black spots.
He said: “They will bring extra focus and resources to areas where disadvantaged young people find it a struggle to get on.”