Report reveals ‘huge gaps’ between the poorest youngsters in the north and London
HILDREN across Greater Manchester are ‘proud of where they’re from’ but are ‘too often left behind’ - and face a ‘double whammy’ of deprivation and poor schools a report has warned.
The Children’s Commissioner report says many youngsters in our region are ‘thriving,’ but that there are ‘huge gaps’ between the poorest kids in the north and the poorest in London.
Children across the north, including in Greater Manchester, are ‘proud of their communities’ and ‘ambitious for the future,’ but many are not yet feeling the benefits of regeneration of northern regeneration, the report adds.
England’s Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield said children from poorer homes in the north face an education gap that starts before school and widens over time.
The report also raised concerns about children having nothing to do, with many ‘relying’ on fast food restaurants and shopping centres for a place to socialise.
A lack of youth clubs and other activities for teenagers is a particular problem, the report adds, with some believing their peers turn to crime through boredom.
“We were literally walking around for three hours yesterday in the cold because we didn’t have anywhere to go,” one teenager said.
Many children, the report said, do well at primary school, but fall behind at secondary school, often ‘going into reverse.’
Greater Manchester is highlighted as an area where children are held back by ‘a lack of confidence, uncertainty and low expectation.’
School kids in Greater Manchester were the least likely in the country to leave school with good GCSEs in English and Maths.
Greater Manchester was the worst region in the north - and the country for that measure - with around 55pc of pupils gaining A* to C in English and Maths at GCSE.
The report found this was largely to do with the poor progress students make at secondary school.
“Both outcomes and progress at secondary school are poor,” the report said.
Asked about where they live, many children said they thought Greater Manchester was a good place to grow up. ●●The survey found children were aware of high profile employers such as MediaCity but researchers found it hard to turn career information into ‘tangible’ opportunities for them
Kids were aware of high profile employers on their doorstep, such a SportsCity and MediaCity, the report said.
But researchers found it was hard to turn careers information into opportunities which felt ‘tangible’ for young people.
“When we asked ‘what careers aren’t available in Manchester?’ the answer that came back from one group was ‘science,’ the report said.
“We probed this by asking about Manchester’s connection to science - in particular graphene and Professor Brian Cox.
“It then transpired that Brian Cox had recently spoken at the school science day and the group could tell us about graphene, what it was potentially so useful and how it was discovered in Manchester.
“None of this knowledge had translated into perceptible opportunities.”
The children’s commissioner has called for greater investment for struggling families and a scheme to boost teacher recruitment in the north.
Children’s Commissioner Ms Longfield said: “Children growing up in the north love and are proud of the place they live.
“They want a future where they live near their family and community and they want jobs and opportunities to rival anywhere else in the country.
“The Northern Powerhouse, and the new devolved mayors, provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to drive that ambition.
“While many children in the North are thriving, there are huge gaps between the poorest northern kids and those in the south.
“Too many children in the north are facing the double-whammy of entrenched deprivation and poor schools.
“They are being behind.
“We need to ask why a child from low income family in London is three times more likely to go to university than a child who grows up in Hartlepool.
“The Northern Powerhouse will only succeed if children are put at the heart of the project.
“If the north is to flourish it needs to grow and retain the talents of all its children and truly offer the opportunities in life they hope for.”
The report - Growing Up North, Look North: A generation of children await the powerhouse promise - is based on 12 months of research and conversations with children, schools, businesses, councils, health professionals and charities. left