Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has welcomed the news that the Bradford District is to become a Priority Education Investment Area, meaning schools in Keighley and Ilkley will receive a share of £40 million in extra support over three years.
Priority Education Investment Areas will receive tailored support to address their local needs, including to improve digital connectivity in schools and launch a leadership development programme for aspiring trust leaders. These areas will also be prioritised for new specialist sixth form free schools, will be eligible for retention payments to help schools maintain the best teachers in high priority subjects, and they will be able to access a new pilot programme improve pupil attendance.
This follows the announcement in February that the Bradford District will become an ‘Education Investment Area’, meaning local schools will receive targeted funding through the Levelling-Up programme. The plans come as part of the Government’s wider mission to ensure that 90 per cent of children leaving primary school in England are reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths by 2030. In 2019, just 65 per cent of pupils met all three standards, with the proportion substantially varying across the country.
Robbie Moore MP said: “Following the announcement that our area and local schools will be receiving targeted funding as one of the Government’s Education Investment Areas, I am delighted that we have now been upgraded to a ‘Prioritised’ Education Investment Area.
This will offer practical improvements to our local education offering, making a real difference to schools across Keighley and Ilkley. This involves a £40 million funding package, and includes being identified as an area for new specialist sixth form free schools as well as payments to ensure the best teachers stay in our area.
Ensuring every child in Keighley and Ilkley, no matter where they are from, has access to a top-quality education is of so much importance to me. I am delighted to see that, working with the Government, we are delivering the funding and the vision to make sure this is a reality.”
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “This plan will deliver for every child, by making sure all have access to a school that meets our current best standards, harnessing the incredible energy and expertise of the one million people that work in schools.
We know what works in schools and we are scaling up to ensure that every child can expect interesting, enriching lessons. Parents rightly expect a world class education for their children and that is what we will deliver.”
