100 new Opportunity Areas are key to unleashing Britain’s potential

An ambitious expansion of Opportunity Areas in left behind communities as well as investment in universities and the green economy, should be cornerstones of the Government's plan to level up Britain, Justine Greening has said.

Writing in today’s Times, the former Education Secretary says the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, must not let the delayed Budget get in the way of breathing new life into parts of the country that have the lowest levels of social mobility, now being made worse by Covid-19. 

She also urges the Chancellor to avoid piecemeal headline grabbing ideas and instead invest and expand on a Opportunity Areas scheme that is already delivering results and then to join it up as part of the Government’s 2050 net zero carbon target.

Justine, who also founded the Social Mobility Pledge in 2018, has highlighted the expansion of Opportunity Areas as one measure that could increase social mobility and progress towards net zero.

Introduced in 2016 by Ms Greening, the 12 Opportunity Areas already in place are achieving results, including the Opportunity Areas in Yorkshire - Bradford, Doncaster and the North Yorkshire Coast. The rates of improvements in reading, writing and maths are significantly above the national average – 16% above in the case of Bradford, 12% in the case of Doncaster and the North Yorkshire Coast.

Opportunity Areas work holistically, both inside and outside schools to improve education outcomes. They are tailored by schools, universities, communities and businesses locally to improve education through grassroots action. The local plans involve Department for Education officials working hand in hand with the local Opportunity Area team. Evidence driven, they have taken a long term approach to change, recognising that with engrained problems there often aren’t quick fixes. 

Justine Greening is also calling on the Government to combine Opportunity Areas with its commitment to net zero carbon emissions. 

Justine Greening said: 

“People and Planet are two sides of the same coin so I want to see the Chancellor demonstrate he has a joined-up plan for both. A delayed Budget cannot also mean postponing investment in our young people and communities that need it most. 

“There is always the temptation as a minister to launch brand new initiatives but if the real aim is change on the ground, often the best place to look is to those ideas that are already delivering results. Net zero is the long-term destination for our country and Opportunity Areas are how we can get there in a levelled-up way. 

“Opportunity Areas are proven drivers of social mobility and I would like to see this government plough significant investment into a radical expansion of their reach so that we can have over 100 of them where they are most needed around our country.

“I also think there is a huge opportunity to work back from our net zero 2050 commitment, investing in green technologies, the green economy and our world class universities. That will attract further investment into areas that desperately need it to create high skilled, well-paid jobs that help Britain to hit its net zero commitment and also to level up Britain in the process.”

Read more:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/education-dont-put-young-peoples-futures-on-hold-bsg6v52j0