The Education Secretary, Justine Greening, announced the opportunity area programme would now be expanded to 12 new areas, including Hastings.
In a speech delivered on 19 January, she set out the role of education in removing obstacles to social mobility, and the importance of ensuring that all young people can fulfil their potential.
Jane Fletcher, Regional Director for Hastings at Ark, said: “We are delighted that the government has announced the establishment of six further opportunity areas and that Hastings has been chosen to become one of them.Ark schools exist to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. We welcome this extra funding that will support Hasting’s schools and promote social mobility in the area. We are proud of our work in schools such as Ark Blacklands Primary Academy, that moved from Ofsted’s “inadequate” to “outstanding” in less than three years and we see this investment as an opportunity to further transform lives in our community.”
Increased funding will support local education providers and communities to address the biggest challenges in the area, and Hastings as an opportunity areas will have priority access to other DfE support including the Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund, focused on supporting teachers and school leaders in challenging areas to develop.
A key aim of the Government’s opportunity areas is to build young people’s knowledge and skills and provide them with the best advice and opportunities, including creating local partnerships with early years providers, schools, colleges, universities, businesses, charities and local authorities.
Ark’s schools in Hastings: