This year's GCSE and A-level results have exposed a stark north-south divide in England, with students in London and the south-east significantly outperforming those in the north. In London, 28.4% of GCSE exams were graded 7-9, compared to 17.6% in the north-east and 18.6% in the north-west. A-level results showed a similar pattern, with 30% of grades in London being A or A*, versus 22% in the north-east and 24% in the north-west.
Headteacher Glyn Potts of St John Henry Newman Catholic college in Oldham attributes the disparity to persistent absence, which has surged since the pandemic. He notes that many children miss school due to deeper social problems, such as poverty, housing issues, and involvement in county lines drug gangs. 'Children aren't going to be interested in school if they haven't got a bed,' Potts said.
The cost of living crisis has exacerbated the situation, with an extra quarter of families at Potts's school struggling to pay bills and buy food. The school offers free breakfasts to encourage attendance, but Potts is uncomfortable with the high rate of parental fines for missing school in Oldham, arguing that fining families only worsens their circumstances.
Frank Norris, education adviser to the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, says schools in deprived areas need support to re-engage families, not just children. 'The stress in families is worse than I've ever seen,' he said. Sir Kevan Collins, who resigned as the government's schools recovery tsar in 2021, warned that without proper investment, existing gaps would widen. He described the situation as 'very sad' and called for a national effort to address the issue.
