Where people live in three of the region's major cities can affect their chances at school or of going to university, according to a hard hitting report published today which also says three of the country's poorest-performing constituencies are in Yorkshire.

Research has found an "educational divide" between different areas within the cities of Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield while parts of Doncaster and Hull have been criticised as having among the least-educated residents in Britain. The report, produced by the University and College Union, (UCU) warns a divide between academically successful and unsuccessful constituencies is getting worse. Those living in underachieving areas of the region are now less likely to get a degree than they were at the last General Election.

It also says Hull residents are lagging behind the rest of the country after comparing the academic achievements of people in Britain's 21 biggest cities.

John Prescott's constituency of Hull East has the seventh-lowest level of people with degrees in the country with 11 per cent – compared with a national average of 29 per cent.

Hull West and Hessle, represented by Home Secretary Alan Johnson, fares slightly better with 12 per cent of residents having graduated.

The only constituency in the region with a lower level is Doncaster North, the second-worst nationally, at 9.96 per cent.

Across Hull, the number with no qualifications is higher than average with almost 20 per cent in Hull North compared with 12 per cent across the country.

The UCU's report Location, Location, Location warns that the country's worst-performing constituencies are falling further behind. Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield, are all named as cities divided into areas of "haves and have nots."

The report claims people living in Sheffield Brightside are seven times more likely to have no qualifications than those living in Sheffield Hallam where constituents are also four times more likely to have a degree.Nearly a quarter of people in Sheffield Brightside have no qualifications at all compared with three per cent in Hallam.

The study also highlights a divide in the education of residents of constituencies around Bradford and Leeds. Five of the eight parliamentary constituencies in Leeds and three of the five in the Bradford district have fewer residents with degrees than the national average.

More than a third of constituents in Leeds North East have a degree; only 18 per cent of Leeds East residents achieve this. In Shipley 34 per cent of people have a degree compared with 15 per cent in neighbouring Bradford North.


Statistics show degree of split

LEEDS & BRADFORD

Both divided with the majority of constituencies in each having fewer graduates than the national average. Bradford West has more than twice the number of people without qualifications as Bradford South.


SHEFFIELD

Divided city with residents in Hallam four more times likely to have degrees than those in Brightside. Residents of Brightside seven times more likely to have no qualifications that those in Hallam.


HULL

Residents lagging behind other major cities in the UK for qualifications. Almost one in five residents in Hull North have no qualifications. Both Hull East and Hull West and Hessle named in bottom 20 constituencies in the country for the level of graduates.