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North-south divide starts with pre-school children, report says North-south divide starts with pre-school children, report says
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Children born into the poorest families in the north of England are falling behind comparable children in the south before they even reach school, according to new research that highlights a host of educational and other inequalities the government must tackle to succeed in creating a ”northern powerhouse”. Children born into the poorest families in the north of England are falling behind comparable children in the south before they even reach school, according to new research that highlights a host of educational and other inequalities the government must tackle to succeed in creating a “northern powerhouse”.
The thinktank IPPR North has welcomed the aspirations of the chancellor, George Osborne, to tackle the UK’s north-south divide, but warned that children in the prospective northern powerhouse area are already disadvantaged prior to turning five because families are affected by higher unemployment and low pay in a local economy suffering from weak productivity and underinvestment.The thinktank IPPR North has welcomed the aspirations of the chancellor, George Osborne, to tackle the UK’s north-south divide, but warned that children in the prospective northern powerhouse area are already disadvantaged prior to turning five because families are affected by higher unemployment and low pay in a local economy suffering from weak productivity and underinvestment.
Related: Huge disparity in job creation between north and south – ONS reportRelated: Huge disparity in job creation between north and south – ONS report
Less than half of children from the most deprived households in the north of England reach a good standard of development by that age, according to the thinktank’s analysis of Department for Education figures. It said statistics from other regions highlight how targeted public policy can boost early development.Less than half of children from the most deprived households in the north of England reach a good standard of development by that age, according to the thinktank’s analysis of Department for Education figures. It said statistics from other regions highlight how targeted public policy can boost early development.
With only 47% of the poorest children in the north of England meeting that level, they lag far behind those in London, where 59% make the standard – measured by early learning goals spanning personal development, language skills and mathematics. Only those in the east Midlands, at 43%, fare worse.With only 47% of the poorest children in the north of England meeting that level, they lag far behind those in London, where 59% make the standard – measured by early learning goals spanning personal development, language skills and mathematics. Only those in the east Midlands, at 43%, fare worse.
Ed Cox, a director at IPPR North and co-author of the State of the North 2015 report, said: “If the northern powerhouse is to drive national prosperity, these figures show the challenges it must overcome to become a reality. We will never become a powerhouse economy when our children and young people have such a poor start in life.Ed Cox, a director at IPPR North and co-author of the State of the North 2015 report, said: “If the northern powerhouse is to drive national prosperity, these figures show the challenges it must overcome to become a reality. We will never become a powerhouse economy when our children and young people have such a poor start in life.
“It will take a generation of investment: not only in new railways and motorways, but in the ‘human capital’ of the north – in education and training, starting with the youngest.”“It will take a generation of investment: not only in new railways and motorways, but in the ‘human capital’ of the north – in education and training, starting with the youngest.”
Setting out a series of benchmarks by which to measure the policy’s success, the group warned that the northern powerhouse must go beyond raising headline economic growth and productivity to create more jobs and increase wages for all.Setting out a series of benchmarks by which to measure the policy’s success, the group warned that the northern powerhouse must go beyond raising headline economic growth and productivity to create more jobs and increase wages for all.
Shortly after the general election, Osborne proclaimed a plan for a collection of northern cities which, when combined, “can take on the world”. He has vowed to rebalance the UK economy by devolving more powers to cities in the north of England, improving transport networks and backing science and innovation projects.Shortly after the general election, Osborne proclaimed a plan for a collection of northern cities which, when combined, “can take on the world”. He has vowed to rebalance the UK economy by devolving more powers to cities in the north of England, improving transport networks and backing science and innovation projects.
Related: London 'to grow twice as fast as north despite Conservative policies'Related: London 'to grow twice as fast as north despite Conservative policies'
But the plan has not been without its critics, with concerns there will be too much focus on cities at the expense of smaller towns. The mothballing of the SSI steelworks in Redcar and news that Tata Steel is cutting 900 jobs in Scunthorpe have cast a shadow over pledges to boost employment in the region.But the plan has not been without its critics, with concerns there will be too much focus on cities at the expense of smaller towns. The mothballing of the SSI steelworks in Redcar and news that Tata Steel is cutting 900 jobs in Scunthorpe have cast a shadow over pledges to boost employment in the region.
IPPR North notes that in terms of size alone, the north of England is “indeed a powerhouse”. Its economy is worth £289bn – making it more than twice as big as the Scottish economy – and its cities are growing faster than anywhere else in the UK outside London. It is home to 1m businesses and 29 universities.IPPR North notes that in terms of size alone, the north of England is “indeed a powerhouse”. Its economy is worth £289bn – making it more than twice as big as the Scottish economy – and its cities are growing faster than anywhere else in the UK outside London. It is home to 1m businesses and 29 universities.
But the thinktank also underscores the challenges ministers and local policymakers will face if they want to make the plan a reality.But the thinktank also underscores the challenges ministers and local policymakers will face if they want to make the plan a reality.
“The north has some of the lowest levels of productivity in the whole of Europe, too much of its labour is under-utilised, and the low incomes that result lead to high levels of poverty and disadvantage,” says the report.“The north has some of the lowest levels of productivity in the whole of Europe, too much of its labour is under-utilised, and the low incomes that result lead to high levels of poverty and disadvantage,” says the report.
“An average worker in the north would, in effect, have to work more than 24 additional 35-hour weeks each year in order to generate as much economic growth as an average worker in London.”“An average worker in the north would, in effect, have to work more than 24 additional 35-hour weeks each year in order to generate as much economic growth as an average worker in London.”
The employment rate in the region is below the national average, and underemployment – a measure of people who would like to work more hours – is higher. Hourly pay also tends to be lower, the report adds.The employment rate in the region is below the national average, and underemployment – a measure of people who would like to work more hours – is higher. Hourly pay also tends to be lower, the report adds.
The thinktank listed four tests, each with several key measures, that the northern powerhouse has to meet. Economic growth must “combine rising productivity with more jobs and higher wages for all”; the region should enjoy “huge improvements to the development of skills, starting with the very youngest”; there has to be higher investment in innovation and infrastructure and it should give people a “genuine involvement in the way the north of England is run”.The thinktank listed four tests, each with several key measures, that the northern powerhouse has to meet. Economic growth must “combine rising productivity with more jobs and higher wages for all”; the region should enjoy “huge improvements to the development of skills, starting with the very youngest”; there has to be higher investment in innovation and infrastructure and it should give people a “genuine involvement in the way the north of England is run”.