00:00While the percentage of high achieving pupils has risen slightly from 16.4% in 2019, the
00:07gap between the North East and London has widened from 9.3% before the pandemic to 10.6%
00:13in 2025. Education leaders say this reflects not a lack of ability or ambition, but deep
00:19rooted structural inequalities and the long term impact of COVID-19 on disadvantaged communities.
00:26Henry Mureson, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, described the findings
00:31as of significant concern, pointing to how successive governments have failed to properly
00:37invest in the North. Despite the challenges, nearly 65% of students in the North East achieved
00:42a grade four or above, which is considered a standard pass, which was higher than other
00:47regions in the UK. Schools North East, a network representing hundreds of schools, praised the
00:53resilience of students and the dedication of teachers. However, it also warned that
00:58chronic underfunding, crumbling buildings and a lack of services for children with SEND
01:04continue to hold the region back. The North East also records the highest school
01:09absent rates, lowest levels of private tutoring and highest proportion of children with SEND
01:15in the country. In 2024 to 2025, 32% of pupils in the region were eligible for free school
01:21meals, far above the national average of 25% and exceeding 40% in some parts of Newcastle.
01:28In response, Education Minister Catherine McKinnell said the government is taking steps to tackle
01:32these barriers. Speaking at Times Radio, the Newcastle North MP pointed to the expansion of
01:37free school meals and the rollout of free breakfast clubs. We are tackling what we see. Are the barriers
01:42holding young people back, she said.
