As the new Education Secretary takes up his post, North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Skills Director, Michelle Rainbow, addresses the priority areas for skills and education in the North East.
On 24 July, Gavin Williamson was named as the new Education Secretary, taking his seat on the front benches in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet.
As well as heading up the Department for Education, Mr Williamson has responsibility for skills and apprenticeships – a portfolio previously overseen by Anne Milton.
Mr Johnson has been quoted as saying that his job is to make sure that children have access to a “superb” education, regardless of where they live in the country. So when it comes to children and young people here in the North East, what are the key changes we need to see in terms of support for education and skills development in our region? Firstly we have to address the issue of funding. As he entered Downing Street, Mr Johnson pledged an extra £4.6 billion for schools by 2022/23. Any news of extra funding is always welcome, but we need to know how this funding will be allocated.
We know that many pupils in our region face significant social challenges compared to their peers, and these challenges can often lead to lower levels of achievement. In the North East, as well as better funding right across the education system, we’d like to see extra targeted funding to support the pupils that need it the most.
Gavin Williamson has campaigned for fairer funding for schools in the past, so I hope that as Education Secretary he’ll prioritise work to close the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils.
Also on our list of priorities for education in the North East is a focus on Further Education, particularly around the introduction of T-Levels. Last year, Williamson’s predecessor Damian Hinds set out his vision for a world-class technical education system, with T-levels offering a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job’ experience.
The introduction of this new qualification will offer 16-year-olds a choice between academic and technical education, potentially leading to a generational skills-shift and helping to grow our economy and productivity as well as helping the UK to compete globally.
However, the success of T-levels is dependent on the support of employers who’ll help to develop and deliver them. Mr Williamson and his team need to help employers to understand the opportunities that T-levels can bring and how they can contribute to the success of our long-term economic future.
Next we turn our attention to teachers. Of course, the success of our schools is down to our fantastic teachers and I hope that Mr Williamson’s previous experience as a school governor has given him an insight into the importance of investing in the recruitment and retention of good school staff. And it’s not only about attracting high-quality trainee teachers to the profession. It’s also important that we hold on to our experienced teachers by providing the right ongoing support and working conditions.
And finally, more than anything, the school system needs stability. Mr Williamson is the fifth Education Secretary in five years and our schools have seen many changes during that time. Giving them stability, alongside the freedom and financial support to get on with what they do best, is vital if we are to provide children and young people with the superb education they have been promised.
Visit nelep.co.uk to find out about the North East LEP's work with schools and employers in the North East.
