A collective of North East schools have issued a plea to the new Prime Minister and Education Secretary to step up to prevent a critical "disadvantage chasm" emerging in the region.
The voices of more than 1,000 schools across the North East have collectively asked for support, care and a willingness to act fast to deliver for the region which faces a specific range of "challenges".
The letter, addressed to the new Labour Prime Minister by Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, praises an encouraging move to recruit new teachers urges the government to take seriously other issues facing educators in the region.
Drawing on their recommendations from their 2024 Manifesto for North East education which includes greater support for early years, evidence based policy making and more, the letter places particular emphasis on problems which are not "sufficiently reflected" in new policy.
Mr Zarraga wrote: "Despite the previous emphasis placed by all political parties on the importance of education, policy proposals have not sufficiently reflected the concerns of North East school leaders and staff at the chalk face.
"Our manifesto is a call to action for policymakers, to take seriously the range of contextual challenges facing schools in our region, especially the impact of long-term deprivation.
"There needs to be a genuine sense of urgency to put in place and begin comprehensive efforts to address these issues within the next parliament.
"A failure to act now risks turning the growing disadvantage gap in educational attainment into a disadvantage chasm."
The trust's manifesto was launched ahead of the general election, and laid out ten points they wanted to see addressed by the government following the election which is a "critical juncture for education policy".
Their manifesto included:
1. Recognise the regional context
2. Promote a positive narrative around North East education
3. Depoliticise Education
4. Evidence-based policy making
5. Long-term view
6. Greater Support for Early Years
7. A joined up approach from cabinet to the chalkface
8. Support North East school staff at every level
9. Ensure all pupils can access an appropriate curriculum
10. Targeted support for those with the greatest needs
They added that the manifesto was "a call to action" to leaders and an "opportunity for policymakers to acknowledge the long-term structural concerns which impact on attainment and outcomes in the North East."
In her first week as Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson pledged to deliver a “sea change” in early years provision as she called it her “number one priority”.
On Wednesday (July 10), she said the Government would recruit more early years staff through a “re-energised” recruitment campaign.
Labour has also said it will repurpose empty or under-used classrooms in primary schools to offer more places at 3,000 new school-based nurseries.
But, Schools North East hopes the new secretary of state will not "lose sight" on how best to support the region in her role whilst also representing Houghton and Sunderland South in parliament.
The Department for Education were approached for comment regarding the letter.
A spokesperson said: “We have already started the work needed to transform our education system and break down the barriers to opportunity so we can improve the life chances of all children.
“We have taken the first steps to recruiting 6,500 new teachers, and appointed Sir Kevan Collins to our Board, who brings a wealth of experience in tackling barriers to education and will advise on driving high and rising standards.
“We will also deliver real change by providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every secondary school, introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary, and developing an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty so that families feel supported, and children are able to learn.”
The full letter to the Prime Minister reads:
Dear Sir Keir Starmer,
I write to you on behalf of the 1,150 schools in the Schools North East network. We would like to welcome you as Prime Minister following your general election victory, and we look forward to representing the voice of schools in our region to the new government.
The inclusion of recruiting 6,500 new teachers as part of Labour’s first steps for change is encouraging, recognising that the key to improving educational opportunities is recruiting the right staff.
However, the challenges facing schools in our region are not restricted to the crisis in recruitment and retention. In the run-up to the general election, we published our 2024 Manifesto for North East Education.
Despite the previous emphasis placed by all political parties on the importance of education, policy proposals have not sufficiently reflected the concerns of North East school leaders and staff at the chalk face.
Our manifesto is a call to action for policymakers, to take seriously the range of contextual challenges facing schools in our region, especially the impact of long-term deprivation. There needs to be a genuine sense of urgency to put in place and begin comprehensive efforts to address these issues within the next parliament. A failure to act now risks turning the growing disadvantage gap in educational attainment into a disadvantage chasm.
The letter from the new Education Secretary to the education workforce is promising, and we particularly welcome Bridget Phillipson’s ambition to reset the relationship between government and the education sector. We would urge you to support her to the fullest in that ambition. Central to our manifesto was the necessity of establishing a period of stability for schools, and a ‘de-pressurising’ of the education system.
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As Ms Phillipson develops her plans for education, it is crucial that the government as a whole does not lose sight of the need to focus on how best to support and protect our school leaders, staff, and students. Achieving this requires recognition of their perennial contextual challenges, as well as the principles and recommendations, set out in our manifesto.
We look forward to working closely with the government to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all children, especially in our most disadvantaged areas.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Zarraga, Director
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