Six parts of the North East are among 55 "disadvantaged areas" where new "elite" sixth form free schools could be built in a Government plan to boost education and offer greater opportunity to talented pupils.
But the plans may only help "serve children who already do very well”, a headteachers’ union has warned".
A Levelling Up White Paper will identify "Education Investment Areas" across England as locations for specialist sixth form-free schools.
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The 55 'cold spots' where education outcomes are the weakest will be targeted for "investment, support and action that help children from all backgrounds and areas to succeed at the very highest levels".
High performing teachers will be offered retention payments to stay and "areas will be prioritised as the location for new specialist sixth form free schools where there is limited provision to ensure talented children from disadvantaged backgrounds have access to the highest standard of education this country offers".
Of the 55 council areas identified as Education Investment Areas, six are in the North East: Sunderland, County Durham, South Tyneside, Darlington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool
Schools in those areas judged to be less than "good" by Ofsted inspectors could be moved into better performing academy trusts under the plans.
Headteachers have argued that the sixth forms could help pupils who are already high-achieving.
“We are not so sure about the idea of setting up ‘new elite sixth forms’. This sounds like they will serve children who already do very well and could put pressure on existing provision when the simplest solution would surely be to improve the lamentable state of post-16 funding,” Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said.
The paper released today will set a target of 90% of pupils leaving primary school in England to reach the expected standard of reading, writing and maths in 2030.
“In 2019, just 65% of pupils met all three standards, with the proportion substantially varying across the country,” the DfE said.
Schools will be encouraged to address issues like poor attendance.
Mr Barton said: “We share the Government’s ambition to improve numeracy, literacy and therefore the life chances among the one-third of young people who need more support.
He added that it was “slightly infuriating” that the Government “insists on talking about illiteracy and innumeracy”.
“These children are not illiterate or innumerate and it is somewhat insulting to describe them as such. They just fall below the expected standard at primary school against a specific set of tests,” he said.
Mr Barton said the children did need more support but that he was unsure the White Paper achieved this, as the most disadvantaged pupils needed help that went “beyond the school gates” to address poverty, while there was a “crying need” for better funding for pupils with special educational needs.
“There’s much food for thought in the outline of the Government’s White Paper, but the devil will, as ever, be in the detail. Identifying 55 communities for intensive additional support sounds promising and we look forward to seeing exactly how this will work,” he added.
“The idea of moving schools judged less than good in successive Ofsted inspections into multi-academy trusts sounds a little like the defunct ‘coasting schools’ policy that the Department for Education jettisoned a few years ago,” he said.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “The most valuable resource on the planet is the human resource.
“Investing in people to get on in life and receive the best possible education is core to the mission of this Government, and we are determined to help people gain the knowledge and skills needed to unleash their potential.
“This White Paper sets out our blueprint for putting skills, schools and families at the heart of levelling up. It focuses on putting great schools in every part of the country, training that sets you up for success in a high-skilled, well-paid career and ensuring no-one misses out on opportunities simply because of where they live or their family background.
“Raising our expectations and aspirations for children, as well as creating a high-skilled workforce, will end the brain drain that sees too many people leaving communities in order to succeed.
“These plans will help create a level playing field and boost the economy, both locally and nationally.”
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said that “many of the areas now targeted for support have been among the hardest hit by education cuts over the last decade – on the Government’s own watch, and entirely of its own making”.
“The sums being promised will not make up for what has been cut. If the Government was serious about levelling up education, then it would restore all the money it has cut from these schools,” he added.
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