Government announces £1 billion towards opportunity agenda

The government has set out a £1bn package to help pupils in England catch up on teaching missed during the coronavirus lockdown in a boost for the opportunity agenda.

Under the plan primary and secondary schools will be given £650m to spend on one-to-one or group tuition for any pupils they think need it. In addition a £350m programme will be set up to give the most disadvantaged pupils access to tutors over the next academic year.

It comes after former Education Secretary Justine Greening has been calling for a catch up plan in recent weeks, as featured below on Newsnight on 19th May.

Founder of the Social Mobility Pledge, Justine Greening, said today “Our children and young people have been out of school for nearly three months, with the most disadvantaged worst affected by the schools shutdown. That’s why I called for a catch up plan to close this growing opportunity gap.

“I’m glad the government has listened and I welcome this initial step of what I hope will be a comprehensive catch up plan not just for schools but for getting all young people safely back into the classroom, restarting their education and back on track as soon as possible.”

Justine spoke to BBC News about the announcement.