Poorest Northern kids need to be at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse - Children's Commissioner

A new report has found that too many children growing up in the North face a double-whammy of entrenched deprivation and poor schools.

'Growing Up North' praises the ambitions of the Northern Powerhouse project, but warns that many of the most disadvantaged children in the North are falling far behind their equivalents in the South, particularly children growing up in London.

They are less likely to do well in secondary school, more likely to go to a poor school and more likely to leave education early.

While some parts of the North have the best primary schools in the country, many secondary schools are struggling.

The report calls on the Northern Powerhouse Project to give children the same attention as economic regeneration, otherwise the promise of the Powerhouse will not be relaised.

As part of the report children, schools, businesses, councils, health professionals and charities all gave their insight into how the system worked.

Some are unsure how regeneration would improve their lives.

“They’ve done up the main thing to make it look nice, rather than getting things done that will actually benefit us.” Child in Northumberland

Others feel positive about recent changes.

“It has definitely got better in the last five years. There’s loads more to do than there was before and there are lots of new shops.” Child in Sheffield

And most are proud of where they live.

“I think Manchester is a good place to grow up. There’s different things around every corner” Child in Manchester

The report recommends major improvements to the North's secondary schools in the most deprived areas, calling it a 'priority' investment.

It also calls for an apprenticeship plan in every local area, to keep all children in training or education until the age of 18.

There also needs to be an effort to close the North's 'Early Years Gap' by focusing support on families who are struggling but not receiving support at the moment.

“We want to create a country where everyone gets the best start in life, no matter what their background is or where they live. That’s why we are investing in projects to raise pupils’ outcomes from an early age, train strong school leaders and support schools in the north, as well as improving outcomes for children in regions that have faced long-term challenges through our 12 Opportunity Areas - five of which are in the north. This builds on our progress since 2010, with 1.9 million more children in England now in good or outstanding schools, record numbers of young people in education or training - including one million apprenticeships in the north - and more disadvantaged pupils now going to university.

“As the Children’s Commissioner notes, many children in the north are now thriving, but there is more to do. Our Northern Powerhouse programme includes £3.4billion investment in projects to boost the local economy, £12million to spread good teaching practice in English and improve early literacy, and schemes that help families to support their child’s education at home.”