Education in Northumberland is Unique

The West of Northumberland is unique - let’s not assume the national model fits our local context

Map of Haydon Bridge and Hexham School Catchment areas overlaid the Greater London Authority area

Challenges for us:

large area, sparsely populated makes collaboration more challenging
poor transport system
few very large local employers
static population with lack of clarity of housing and population growth projections
poor school building stock along with surplus capacity
making National Funding Formula work for us
education provision for 16 – 18 year olds, too many have to leave area to study
results at Key stage 2, 4 and 5 are variable across the two partnerships
mixture of academy and local schools makes change difficult

Opportunities:

even stronger collaboration amongst the few schools we have to develop excellent teaching in all our schools
new stronger leadership and governance model across our schools to further support educational improvements and financial sustainability
fully inclusive provision in our area
bespoke SEN expertise and provision for our needs
make National Funding Formula work for our unique situation
understand how to make our education provision work with the transport networks we have
look to the skills required for employment and training in rural Northumberland and Newcastle to drive our curriculum offer

Some more facts for context (Greater London Data taken from Annual London Education Report 2017)

Anatomy of schools	Haydon Bridge & Hexham		Greater London
Number children in primary/secondary school	4,876		1, 237,280
Number of first / primary schools	25		1816
Number of middle schools	5		0
Number of secondary schools	2		498
Number of special schools	1		145
Number of alternative providers	0		61
Number of independent schools	1		549
Average number pupils in first/primary	77		409
Average number of pupils in year 5 or 6	70		81
Average number pupils in middle school	281		-
	HBHS	QEHS
Average number of pupils in secondary school	361	1256	991
Progress 8 score (GCSE)	-0.21	0.53	0.16
Attainment 8 (GCSE)	41.7	54.4	51.9
A level point score	27.01	40.44	31.52
Key stage 2 % met expected standard in reading writing and maths	73		59

Average figures hide the variation even within London: