South Yorkshire continues to receive far less funding per pupil than is fair, with an average of £4092 spend on the education of secondary school students in the South of Yorkshire. By contrast, Tower Hamlets in London receives £6947.[1] Both areas have significant social and economic challenges and London’s higher prices do not justify such a big funding gap. In the longer term, a strong, devolved Yorkshire Parliament would ensure educational equality of opportunity.
While under-18s' education does not fall directly within the Mayor’s powers, it is such a critical issue I would make improving and developing further education provision a key priority. Studies of social mobility show that children with career “pathways,” to show the different kind of jobs open to them, have significantly better life-chances than those without. As Mayor, I will push for business links with all primary and secondary schools in South Yorkshire, to show more opportunities to more young people.
If elected Mayor, I will work with education providers to call for a South Yorkshire Education Challenge, similar to the ‘London Challenge’ which proved so successful there. This would then close the attainment gap, raise standards generally, and develop more good and outstanding schools, whilst highlighting excellence, as shown at XP School and the UTC in Doncaster, as well as promoting apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships
There is a strong link between learning more and earning more, so I would promote life-long learning for everyone in work, as well as those coming into the workplace for the first time - it is vital to continue to upskill ourselves through life. I would support the establishment of a Green Energy Technical College in the area to build on the exciting opportunities that green hydrogen and other renewable energy sources give in future. Now is the time to create sustainable jobs in a sustainable world.
Building the opportunities for life-long learning means that education doesn’t stop at 18 or 21. I will push for further promotion of apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, free on-line education provision, night schools, adult education and access courses to improve accessibility for all those, whatever their age, to continue to develop their skills.
I particularly want to focus adult education on groups who might easily be excluded from standard education - from parents wanting to return to the workplace, to young adults looking to improve or learn vocational skills, to computer-literacy programmes for the isolated elderly. Flexible learning is key to making the most of every single person in society.