Education challenges
Philanthropy cannot plug funding gaps that statutory education services face. But it can enable civil society organisations to complement or enhance the system from pre-school to higher education and beyond. Charitable support can also help those with academic ability from all backgrounds, and fund less formal education provision that supports learning as an end in itself, or a way for people to understand and even change the world.
- National challenges: early education provision, school budgets and teacher shortages, effect of pandemic on disadvantaged children and those with higher support needs; lower participation in higher education for those from disadvantaged backgrounds; squeeze on adult education.
- North East England challenges: educational attainment gap significant and growing at GSCE and A levels; lowest proportion of voluntary sector early years providers in England; additional pressure on schools here including high levels of persistent absence; less progression to higher education.
