Rishi Sunak’s big opportunity over schools; he must take it – The Yorkshire Post says

RISHI SUNAK is acutely aware of his heavy burdens of responsibility as Chancellor – even more so at a time of national crisis.
By YP Comment
Published 18th Sep 2020, 05:56 BST
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak during a a QandA with pupils with pupils from the Pickhill Church of England Primary School near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, while on a visit to his Richmond constituency. Photo: Ian LammingChancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak during a a QandA with pupils with pupils from the Pickhill Church of England Primary School near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, while on a visit to his Richmond constituency. Photo: Ian Lamming
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak during a a QandA with pupils with pupils from the Pickhill Church of England Primary School near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, while on a visit to his Richmond constituency. Photo: Ian Lamming

“My biggest fear is getting it wrong,” he confided to pupils at Pickhill Church of England Primary School in his Richmond constituency.

Yet, while he was speaking in the context of Covid-19 and the Treasury’s unprecedented response so far, it also applies to his forthcoming Budget, Spending Review and a need to put education at the heart of the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.

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This is familiar territory for the Chancellor – he was motivated to enter politics by a desire to transform education for all – and he is sympathetic towards The Yorkshire Post’s Power Up The North campaign, which highlighted the North-South attainment gap.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak during Treasury Questions in the House of Commons this week.Chancellor Rishi Sunak during Treasury Questions in the House of Commons this week.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak during Treasury Questions in the House of Commons this week.

He’s also acutely aware of our more recent calls for the Opportunities Area programme of bespoke support for local areas to be extended across the North because of its success so far.

This pioneering policy is already making a marked difference in Bradford, Doncaster and the North Yorkshire coast after being inspired by Justine Greening when she was Education Secretary.

Now a pre-eminent social mobility campaigner respected by the Chancellor, she wants Mr Sunak to use the Budget to create 100 Opportunity Areas which make funds, and extra teachers, available to help students to improve their basic skills – the key is local leadership responding to specific needs.

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And these calls are given added credence today by the Institute for Fiscal Studies which reports that schools serving more deprived pupils have already seen the largest falls in spending per pupil over the last decade, and that the Government’s future spending projections will not do enough to respond to these challenges.

Justine Greening returned to Oakwood School, Rotherham, and which she attended, during her stint as Education Secretary.Justine Greening returned to Oakwood School, Rotherham, and which she attended, during her stint as Education Secretary.
Justine Greening returned to Oakwood School, Rotherham, and which she attended, during her stint as Education Secretary.

It’s a timely warning that Mr Sunak risks getting it wrong if he doesn’t use his Budget to invest in a generation – and this nation’s future.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

Related topics:Rishi SunakJustine GreeningYorkshire PostGovernmentBudget

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