Education divide exposed

Britain’s cities are blighted by hotspots of educational under-achievement, according to a new analysis.

The findings, from the UCU university and college lecturers’ union, reveal a tale of “two Britains” — a country divided into educational “haves” and “have-nots”. It ranks the 632 parliamentary constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales according to the percentage of working-age people (16-64 years old) who have no qualifications.

The contrasts are extreme. In 96 constituencies 15% or more of working-age residents have no qualifications. In some places such as Glasgow North East and Birmingham Hodge Hill this rises to one in four.

Of the 50 constituencies with the highest percentage of people with no qualifications, the West Midlands, the North of England, Scotland and Wales account for four-fifths (40) of them.

By contrast, of the 50 constituencies with the highest percentage of people with at least one qualification, 44 are in the South of England.

According to the OECD international economic organisation of 34 countries, public spending on education as a proportion of GDP is lower in the UK than in many competitor countries.

The UCU said recent decisions by governments of all parties to increase the cost of education and reduce access to support to help with studies have exacerbated this trend.

The union has launched its knowledge economy campaign website at: www.knowledgeeconomy.org.uk