England is becoming an increasingly divided nation where life chances are determined by postcode, rather than potential. The latest report of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission lays bare the opportunity gulf between different parts of the country and, as the commission’s chair Alan Milburn puts it, ‘the gulf between the ambition of a One Nation Britain and today’s reality’.
But beneath the grim reading about England’s postcode lottery is a remarkable Labour success story in London that should serve as a roadmap for communities across the country. When Labour came to power in 1997, the poor performance of London’s schools was an albatross around the necks of young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. An early focus on driving up educational standards through the Excellence in Cities programme was followed up in 2003 by the London Challenge, launched by Estelle Morris and driven by some of the most respected names in the field, including Tim Brighouse and Mike Tomlinson. In stark contrast to current political obsession about school structures, the key to the success of London Challenge was the sharp focus on the quality of leadership and learning and teaching. The programme had a robust evidence base for identifying areas of weakness and best practice – not just across different schools, but also within individual departments. It allowed comparison with schools with similar characteristics to avoid excuses being made on the grounds that the school’s challenges were somehow different or unique. As Tomlinson later reflected, ‘there was no hiding place’.
The ethos and language of the London Challenge was positive. A highly experienced advisory team provided tailored support for each school and local authority. By 2005, London schools were performing above the national average. By the time Labour left office in 2010, London had a higher proportion of good and outstanding schools than anywhere else in England. Today, as Milburn’s report highlights, London and its commuter belt are pulling away from the rest of the country. The government should make similarly rapid progress across the United Kingdom by replicating the success of the London Challenge.
First, the Department for Education should launch a Coastal Challenge and a Rural Challenge to tackle the social mobility ‘coldspots’ highlighted in the report. Drawing on the success of the London Challenge, focused support from the Department for Education working across similar schools and communities around the coastline and areas of high levels of rural deprivation should aim to improve educational outcomes with demonstrable success during this parliament.
Second, the government should breathe new life into its important, but increasingly discredited, Northern Powerhouse agenda by developing an industrial strategy for the north of England that includes a focus on improving education and skills. Young people growing up in northern towns should have the opportunity to realise their educational potential and then go on to successful careers that support the regional economy. As a former member of parliament for Sedgefield once said, ‘Education is the best economic policy there is’.
Third, the government should redirect funding for widening participation in higher education away from universities to schools-based programmes concentrated on raising attainment and aspirations. The handwringing of universities, who blame their sluggish progress on recruiting students from the poorest backgrounds on schools, should not be allowed to persist without consequence. If it is the case that the government’s attention would be better focused on schools, then the money should go with it. In particular, the government should challenge major cities to improve their educational outcomes and also challenge areas of high affluence to improve the lot of children from poorer families where they currently allow those children to fall behind.
If David Cameron wants to focus his remaining term on securing his legacy as a social reformer, he will need to do better than repeating hackneyed soundbites about the number of disadvantaged young people who make it to Oxbridge rather than prison. Entrenched inequality does not start with the university application process, it starts at birth. If the prime minister wants to lead One Nation he could do worse than return to the Labour mantra of ‘what matters is what works’ and focus on making a tangible difference for future generations.
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Wes Streeting is member of parliament for Ilford North. He tweets @WesStreeting
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