Newcastle constituency ‘left behind’ with worst life chances in England

The poorest young people growing up in a Newcastle constituency have the worst life chances of anywhere in England, according to new research.

Newcastle Central and West ranks bottom of a new Opportunity Index published by the Sutton Trust.

The charity has ranked areas according to their social mobility – based on how secondary school children who are eligible for free school meals progress in terms of their exam results, access to higher education, employment status, and earnings.

Its analysis, based on data about more than 10 million young people across two decades, reveals “stark” differences in the life prospects of children growing up in Newcastle compared to the top-rated constituency of East Ham in London.

While both areas have similar levels of free school meal (FSM) eligibility, only 15% of those children in Newcastle Central and West pass their GCSEs in English and maths – compared to 44.6% in East Ham.

FSM pupils from East Ham are also over three times more likely to have a degree by age 22, at 35%, compared to those in Newcastle Central and West, at 10%.

Average earnings for those young people from Tyneside by age 28 are an estimated £7,000 lower than those from East Ham, who are more than three times more likely to reach the top fifth of earners in the country.

Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP for Newcastle Central and West, called the findings “incredibly disappointing” and vowed to raise them with ministers.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I grew up in Newcastle, in a council house, in a single parent family on benefits and became an engineer and an MP. I am deeply concerned that after 15 years of Tory austerity, this kind of social mobility is not available to my constituents. I welcome the recommendations in the report and will be raising with ministers what can be implemented.

“Labour is already making a difference with free daily breakfast clubs, such as at Our Lady and St Anne’s Primary School, as part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity. We have put more money in many people’s pockets by increasing the minimum wage and we are investing in schools with a 5.5% pay rise for teachers.

“But clearly there is much more to be done. We need to understand why London is more successful and how Newcastle is losing out.”

Cramlington and Killingworth comes second bottom of the rankings, with FSM pupils from Newcastle East and Wallsend also deemed to have “very low” prospects – ranking 533rd out of the 543 constituencies in England.

Newcastle North fares better with a ranking of 393, but opportunities for its young people are still “low”.

The highest ranking constituency in the North East is Bishop Auckland, which has a “just above average” rating at 201st in the opportunities list, while London constituencies occupy the entire top 20 positions and 42 of the top 50.

Across the North East, Yorkshire, and the Humber, only 53% of FSM pupils are in education, an apprenticeship, or employment at age 28 – well below the 68% national average for all pupils in England.

The Sutton Trust has urged Labour to use the upcoming Spending Review to pump new investment into tackling educational inequality.

It said the Government should reform the national funding formula for schools, so those facing the highest needs have adequate funding, and increase pupil premium funding for disadvantaged pupils.

Nick Harrison, CEO of the Sutton Trust, said: “This research paints a startling picture of inequality of opportunity across England. The life chances of disadvantaged young people remain strongly tied to where they grow up.

“If the Government genuinely wants to break down barriers to opportunity, we need serious investment in education and economic opportunities in the ‘left behind’ parts of the UK. Failing to act is damaging the life changes of too many of the next generation.”