The level of skills and education in an economy is essential if there is to be significant and sustainable growth. In order to close the gap between the North East and the UK national averages the region will need to increase the number of highly educated individuals who have the knowledge and the relevant skills to make a contribution to the economy.

The North East continues to perform below the national averages at all levels, and although the gap is narrowing, it still remains extremely significant. Perhaps the most worrying aspect of this trend is the fact that as age increases, so does the gap between regional and national performance. This has resulted in the North East having one of the worst qualified workforces in the UK.

To have any hope of achieving the growth targets set for the region, these gaps must be closed. The relatively small numbers of young people moving onto further education stifles the numbers of highly skilled individuals the region is able to produce. The system must be set so it engages with the students at the most appropriate level and provides them with the skills required to make a contribution when they enter the workforce.

Fact File

• In the UK 56.3% of all children aged 15 achieve 5+ A-C grade GCSEs, 89% attain 5+ A-G grades. Only 3.6% of 15 year olds leave school without any GCSE passes.
• In the UK, the average point score per candidate for A Level results is 277.6.
• Performance differs significantly between sub-regions. Over 20% separates the best and worst performing Local Authorities in terms of GCSE achievements, and over 115 points in terms of A Level results.
• The region falls well short of the national average for both GCSE and A Level results, but the gap widens as age increases. At GCSE the gap is just 5% but by A Level the gap has widened to 10%.
• Since 2000, the gap between the NE and the national average for people attaining 5 or more, good GCSEs, has halved.
• The gap between regional and national performance in Science and Maths has remained steady since 2000 but the gap for English has increased.
• In December 2007, the OECD’s PISA study reported that the UK’s performance in science, reading and maths had declined considerably in relation to the other countries, with the UK tumbling from ‘above average’ to ‘average’ positions since the country last took part in 2000.