55 England ‘cold spots’ where schools need more help identified by government

White Paper Leveling-Up due tomorrow promises 90% of children leaving English primary schools will reach expected levels in reading, writing and maths by 2030

Nine out of 10 children leaving primary school in 2030 will be able to read, write and count under government ‘upgrading’ plans, he said today.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi unveiled a “national mission to eradicate illiteracy and incalculability among primary school leavers” by the end of the decade.

The money will be targeted at ’55 cold spots’ in England, dubbed ‘education investment areas’ where ‘education outcomes are lowest’.

Desperate to see it pump funds into the Red Wall seats that propelled Boris Johnson to No 10, the Department for Education pointed out that “95% of these areas are outside London and the south- is”.

The Leveling-Up white paper due tomorrow will promise that 90% of children leaving English primary schools will reach expected levels in reading, writing and maths by 2030. In 2019, just 65% met all three, with wide regional variations.

Mr. Zahawi said: “Investing in people to get ahead in life and receive the best possible education is at the heart of this government’s mission, and we are committed to helping people acquire the knowledge and skills needed to unlock their potential.

“Raise our expectations and aspirations for children, as well as create a highly skilled workforce, will end the brain drain that sees too many people leaving communities to succeed.”

Other plans will see every young person offered access to clubs and activities, “adventures away from home” and volunteering opportunities by 2025.

National Association of Head Teachers General Secretary Paul Whiteman said: “The significant and additional challenges facing schools in some parts of the country are undeniable.

“These schools and the students they serve certainly deserve additional support.

“Unfortunately, this announcement does not seem to meet the real needs of these schools and communities.

“What is needed is not another set of arbitrary goals, but an appropriate plan to ensure every child has the best start in life.”

55 areas selected as “education investment areas”

Bedford

Blackpool

Bolt

Bradford

Bury

Cambridgeshire

Central Bedfordshire

Cornwall

County Durham

Coventry

Darlington

Derby

derbyshire

Doncaster

Dorset

Dudley

East Sussex

Halton

Hartlepool

isle of wight

Kirklees

Knowsley

Leeds

lincolnshire

liverpool

Luton

Manchester

Middlesbrough

Norfolk

North Northamptonshire

North Somerset

North Yorkshire

Nottingham

Nottinghamshire

Oldham

Peterborough

Plymouth

Portsmouth

Rochedale

Rotherham

Salford

Sandwell

Sefton

Somerset

South Gloucestershire

South Tyneside

Saint Helena

Stoke-on-Trent

Suffolk

Sunderland

Swindon

Tame

Wakefield

Wallsall

Wirral