Schools, teachers and councils across the North East are being asked to come up with ideas to close the performance gap between the region’s primary and secondary schools.

The government will provide funding of up to £1.8 million for plans to improve the transition between key stages 2 and 3 - particularly for the most deprived pupils.

The Department for Education’s Opportunity North East programme is trying to ensure that the success being achieved in the region’s primary schools is carried through into secondaries.

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The performance of young people in the North East means the region’s primary schools are the highest-ranked in the country outside of London.

However, North East secondary schools lag behind other regions in terms of exam performance and progress after they leave school.

It had a lower percentage of young people going to top universities than any other area of the country in 2017. 

Tes revealed last year that the Opportunity North East programme wanted to identify why high-performing pupils from deprived backgrounds do less well after leaving primary school.

Now the programme is inviting bids to tackle this issue.

Schools minister Lord Agnew, the chair of the Opportunity North East board, said: “Nobody knows the children and young people in the North East like the teachers in schools across the region, so it’s absolutely crucial that we tap into their knowledge in a way that helps deliver long-term improvements in secondary schools. 

“This expertise will help build on the work already under way as part of Opportunity North East - to ensure more people leave schools in the North East with the qualifications and skills they are capable of achieving.” 

Opportunity North East was launched last year following criticism that none of the government’s first 12 opportunity areas was based in the region.

It has pledged to address why the region has some of the best-performing primary schools in the country, while secondary school performance is below other regions.

The North East has one of the highest proportions of young people not in education, employment or training after Year 11.

Opportunity North East will invest £12 million in targeted approaches to improve the transition from primary to secondary school, drive up standards - particularly at secondary level - and improve outcomes for pupils post 16.

It will also invest another £12 million to boost early career training for new teachers in the region.

The Department for Education will host an event at Shotton Hall Research School, Peterlee, on 26 June to invite suggestions from local education leaders.

Applicants have until 19 July to submit proposals.