Questions have been raised about the DfE’s opportunity area programme after a Tes investigation revealed large disparities in how much money each area has spent.
The flagship policy of Justine Greening during her time as education secretary saw £72 million allocated to 12 social mobility ‘cold spots’ over a three-year period.
Figures released to Tes reveal a £1.2 million difference between the amount spent by the highest and lowest spending opportunity areas up to the end of September 2018.
The first wave of six opportunity areas was announced in October 2016, with a second wave of six more unveiled in January 2017.
In the first wave, which was able to start spending money in October 2017, West Somerset had spent the most by September 2018, £1.34 million, while Blackpool spent the least, £468,000.
This represents a difference of more than £850,000.
In the second wave, which was able to start spending money in January 2018, Doncaster had spent £528,000 by the end of September 2018, compared to £153,000 spent by Ipswich.
Asked about the differences Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said: “There might be a reason for that, but it raises interesting questions about how the project has been managed and to whom it is accountable.”
She said the opportunity areas give “an impression of activity while actually very little is actually happening”.
“In many cases, it’s just a sticking plaster over a gaping wound, because what is needed is a solution to the funding crisis, a regional policy, and a manufacturing and industrial policy which will give jobs and opportunities throughout the country, rather than the South East being completely overheated,” she added.
Natalie Perera, the executive director of the Education Policy Institute, said it was difficult to tell from the spending data whether the opportunity areas were on track.
She added that the data “may well signal a trend of under-spending or a slowness in getting things done - but there are lots of justifiable reasons which the DfE could deploy right now”.
She reiterated concerns about the ability of the programme to tackle the scale of the problems the areas face.
The figures showed that a total of £6.7 million had been spent across the 12 opportunity areas by the end of September 2018.
However, the DfE said it was standard practice to pay for goods and services in instalments, as or after they are delivered, rather than in advance, and that £26 million had been committed by this date.
It added that it was “on track” to spend the full £72 million by the end of the academic year 2019-20.
Children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “The opportunity area programme is truly unique – it’s led and driven by the people who know the area best, and understand what motivates and influences their young people, helping to tackle deep-rooted issues like poor mental health or low confidence with reading and writing.
“Each area has undertaken thorough work with local partners to agree activities and the timelines for them, to address specific issues in their areas.
“However, we expect the timing of when funding is being spent to vary between areas not just because the first OAs were able to spend their funding from October 2017.
“We are on track to spend the full £72 million by the end of the academic year of 2019-20, with £26 million already committed by the end of September 2018.”
