£42m Boost for Struggling Schools in England’s Education Cold Spots
The Government is pumping up to £42 million into 24 of England’s toughest education cold spots, including Nottingham, Liverpool, and Portsmouth. This new cash injection aims to lift disadvantaged pupils by funding proven programmes that improve literacy, numeracy, and attendance across these hard-hit areas.
Leveling the Playing Field for Disadvantaged Pupils
Children in deprived communities will benefit from stronger schools and increased local investment. The funding targets Priority 1 Education Investment Areas (PEIAs), where low educational attainment and pupil disadvantage are most severe. The government’s Local Needs Fund gives schools the tools they need to help kids catch up and thrive.
Schools in Priority 123 areas are also sharing resources and expertise through teaching school hubs and coordinated curriculums, spreading the benefit beyond individual classrooms and helping to reinvest savings back into pupil support.
Experts Back the Drive for Smarter School Regulation and Support
Leora Cruddas CBE, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, praised the move towards “simple, proportionate, risk-based regulation” and more transparent commissioning. She highlighted the importance of preserving diversity and school freedoms in the trust system, warning against one-size-fits-all rules that could stifle innovation and effective leadership.
“It is right that the report focuses on near-term and medium-term actions to improve regulation and commissioning activity,” she said. “We will continue to work with Ofsted and government to build intelligent systems of accountability that respond to context and build relational trust.”
Other education leaders, including Sir Martyn Oliver from Outwood Grange Academies Trust and Steve Bell of The Painsley Catholic Academy, echoed the praise. They welcomed the clarity the review brings and the protection of academy freedoms while pushing for better support across the board.
New Funding Streams and Leader Development to Drive School Improvement
Alongside the Local Needs Fund, the government has unveiled a package of Trust Development Statements outlining priorities for local improvement led by high-quality Multi Academy Trusts (MATs). The £86 million Trust Capacity Fund (2022–25) is already supporting trusts to expand and improve.
The next round of Trust Capacity Funding opens for applications on 3 April, with extra backing from the Trust Establishment and Growth Fund providing essential start-up cash for new ventures.
To secure long-term success, a fresh MAT CEO development programme framework has been published. It details the knowledge, skills, and leadership behaviours required to run large trusts effectively and ensure every child receives a top-notch education.
As one leader put it: the focus on helping all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), is crucial to unlocking every pupil’s potential and turning around schools that have struggled for too long.
