Tackling Educational Inequality in the North East: Insights from EPI, Durham University and NECA

In Spring 2025, the Education Policy Institute (EPI), in partnership with Durham University and the North East Combined Authority (NECA), convened a series of roundtables exploring the deep-rooted causes of educational inequality in the North East of England. These discussions brought together policymakers, school leaders, and education experts to investigate how place-based policy can help overcome longstanding regional disparities.

The resulting paper, “Educational inequalities in the North East of England: Reflections and recommendations from EPI, Durham University and NECA” [May 2025], summarises the key findings and recommendations from the series.

Read the full report here: EPI Summary Paper

Despite having strong schools and successful school leadership, the North East faces some of the most acute educational and social challenges in England. Disadvantaged pupils in the region face:

• Higher child poverty rates

• Lower life expectancy

• A greater risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment, or training)

  
  

By the end of secondary school, the disadvantage gap in attainment is 21.6 months - well above the national average of 19.2 months. Notably, this is a steep rise from a smaller gap in primary education, suggesting a sharp drop-off in outcomes during secondary school.

Challenges Beyond the School Gates

The paper highlights how external factors - like limited public transport, funding cuts, and inconsistent early years checks - compound educational disadvantage. Many pupils are choosing further education options based on which college they can physically get to, not which suits them best.

In response, schools are increasingly delivering services beyond education, supporting families with basic needs. But in a constrained funding environment, these efforts are under serious threat.

Within schools, issues such as teacher recruitment struggles, narrowing of the curriculum, and high absence ratespersist. SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision was identified as the sector’s most urgent challenge, with widening academic gaps and insufficient support structures.

Participants also criticised the current accountability system, which they say disincentivises inclusive practices and forces schools to prioritise inspection outcomes over student needs.

Encouragingly, the paper points to promising avenues for improvement, including:

• Better CPD and training for teachers and support staff

• A shared regional definition of inclusion

• A coordinated response to school absence

• Closer collaboration between schools, local authorities, and trusts, especially on inclusion and pupil movement

Finally, the discussions emphasised the importance of partnerships with local colleges, universities, and third sector organisations to create more joined-up support for young people.

At the David Brown Foundation, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive - regardless of where they grow up. Education is a powerful lever for social mobility, and by supporting initiatives that tackle barriers to learning and inclusion, we aim to help build fairer, more equitable futures. Our work is focused on empowering young people through every stage of their educational journey- supporting schools, funding enriching experiences, and backing the research and partnerships that can bring lasting change.

The report argues that further devolution and targeted, place-based policy could unlock real progress in regions like the North East, by aligning local knowledge, authority, and funding with the scale of the challenge.

While many of the issues identified are national in nature, they are felt more intensely in the North East - and require local solutions.

🔗 Read the full report by EPI, Durham University and NECA