Following on from the previous announcement regarding ‘Education Investment Areas’, today’s Schools White Paper has gone further and announced that North Yorkshire will become a priority EIA.
This means North Yorkshire will be prioritised as the location for new specialist sixth-form free schools, will get more intensive investment beyond the support offered to all Education Investment Areas.
This will include a share of around £40 million of additional funding over the next three years for bespoke interventions to address local needs. Thirsk and Malton pupils will also benefit from support for improving digital connectivity in schools, following the Education Secretary's recent announcement of an extra £150m for better school Wi-Fi. In addition, the EIA announcement includes the launch of a leadership development programme for aspiring academy trust leaders.
Priority Education Investment Areas will also receive priority access to other DfE programmes, including investment in trust growth and applications for new free schools, where needed.
Levelling up the North has always been one of my biggest priorities as an MP and I have lobbied ministers previously for this. I will work with the Government and local authorities where needed to help deliver this funding.
