Bradford Council leader Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe has welcomed the publication of a new strategy aimed at improving school standards in the North of England.
The Northern Powerhouse Schools Strategy has been produced by Bradford head teacher Sir Nick Weller who was commissioned by the Government to carry out the review earlier this year.
It makes a series of recommendations for closing the gap in attainment between the North and South, particularly in the results of disadvantaged children.
Sir Nick, the chief executive of Bradford-based Dixons Academies, says the most important step which can be taken to raise standards in the North is meeting the challenge of attracting and keeping quality teachers.
His strategy recommends Government funding for a new Teach North scheme to attract and retain newly-qualified teachers in disadvantaged areas of the North and that Northern cities should lead on marketing initiatives to attract teachers to live and work in the North of England.
Councillor Hinchcliffe (pictured) said: “We welcome the publication of this report. There are a series of detailed recommendations which we are studying but what stands out is the call for more focus to be given to raise school standards in the North of England."
“Improving the school results and job prospects of young people in Bradford is a top priority for our district and we believe Bradford, as the youngest city in the UK, should be at the heart of a drive to raise standards in Northern schools.”
Bradford is already taking a lead on teacher recruitment and retention with more than £600,000 of council funding invested in programmes to attract and keep talented teachers in the district's schools.
This September 90 new teachers started in post through the creation of a new Talent Bank which uses local expertise to match graduates to the most suitable jobs.
The council is also providing training to develop staff at all levels from executive headteachers through to new and recently qualified teachers.
Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Education, Employment and Skills said: “It is good to see that a Bradford headteacher has been asked to produce a national report about raising standards in the North."
“We are already taking successful steps to improve teacher recruitment in the district but are very much open to working with Sir Nick to identify other areas to drive improvement in Bradford schools.”
Sir Nick will attend Bradford's Education Improvement Board in the New Year where his report's findings will be discussed in more detail.
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