Impact of opportunity areas will be unknown until at least 2021
The government will not be able to see the impact of its £72 million project,which aims to boost social mobility in 12 areas, until after 2020, according to government research.
In a bid to increase social mobility, Blackpool, Derby, Norwich, Oldham, Scarborough, West Somerset, Bradford, Doncaster, Fenland and East Cambridgeshire, Hastings, Ipswich and Stoke-on-Trent, were named as “opportunity areas”.
However, John Rodger, a partner with York Consulting, who has been hired by the government to evaluate the success of the programme, has warned that expectations “may be set too high” and that evaluation may take longer than expected.
The areas selected have been identified as having low levels of social mobility by schools and councils, and will receive a share of £72 million to be used to build teaching and leadership capacity, and improve access to careers advice.
But, the Department for Education’s analysis has found that officials will most likely have to wait much longer than expected to see if the programme is reaching its aim.
Read moreLatest News
17/11/2025 - 09:26
Nearly two thirds of Initial Teacher Training providers believe that teachers are not currently prepared to meet the government’s ambition to raise the complexity threshold for SEND pupils entering mainstream schools.
14/11/2025 - 11:04
England’s councils are warning of a "ticking time bomb" in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, with new data showing deficits that could bankrupt local authorities within three years.
13/11/2025 - 12:14
Event for school leaders, governors and education professionals relocates to the historic Old Billingsgate venue in London.
13/11/2025 - 09:49
The regulations have been set following a second consultation and detailed collaborative working with organisations and people across deaf and hearing communities.
13/11/2025 - 09:39
The Education Committee has published a letter to the Secretary of State for Education asking for more detail about the Department for Education’s work on developing its SEND reforms.
