The education achievements of children, young people, and residents across Northumberland are celebrated in a new report.
Northumberland County Council’s Education, SEND & Skills Annual Report Academic Year 2023-24 also shines a spotlight on the work taking place to support these achievements and sets out the Council’s priorities for 2024/25.
Key highlights in the report include:
- The quality of Early Years provision in Northumberland is excellent with 98.8% of Early Years providers were rated Good or Outstanding in Summer 2024
- The continued high level of schools (94%) receiving good and outstanding Ofsted ratings and the council’s continued investment in its school improvement team to support this
- Northumberland Skills continues to expand into the apprenticeship vocational sectors and offers training in electrical installation, plastering, welding, renewables and advanced manufacturing engineering to support the overall Skills Strategy.
- Major school investment programmes continue in Seaton Valley and the Coquet and Berwick partnership of schools along with smaller projects across the county.
A joint message signed by Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Inspiring Young People; Audrey Kingham, Executive Director of Children Young People & Education; and David Street, Director of Education, SEND and Skills says: “The education landscape continues to be a challenging one.
“However, the impact of our schools, settings and education providers on learners remains very strong.
“Our relationships with schools and settings of all types and our partners in health and social care have never been stronger. The priorities we all share will continue to be developed to the benefit of all.
“I would like to thank all schools, settings and educational providers for their work, skills and talents highlighted throughout this report. It is the determination of those organisations and the individuals within them that have delivered many successes. The Local Authority is proud to be a key supporting partner with you all.
“In addition, I would like to thank the children, young people and their families. You support us with your feedback, direction and at times with your patience. The Local Authority remain and always will be committed to supporting your development to the maximum of our capacity.
“I hope everyone will recognise their part in the successes noted in this report and also be committed to support the areas for future development that it highlights.”
It’s the Council’s aim to tackle inequalities by continuing to improve the quality of early years’ settings, schools, and other providers, so that all children and young people, no matter their circumstances or educational need, have access to education as close to their home communities as possible and achieve the best educational outcomes.
The Council also aims to drive economic growth by developing the county’s vocational education offer to provide clear pathways into apprenticeships, further education, higher education, and employment for all our young people and adults.
By building on key relationships between education and industry, it will deliver skills and training for residents that meet their ambitions and support the economy through greater links between learning pathways and opportunities in the economy.
Key action areas for 2024-26 include: