MORE needs to be done to prevent the North from “lagging behind” the rest of the country when it comes to school standards, according to the former Chancellor.

Yesterday, George Osborne released the first report of his Northern Powerhouse think tank.

In it he claimed “urgent attention” was needed to improve the performance and aspiration of Northern schools. The report says the area loses 30,000 graduates a year as students choose to move away after completing their studies. Also in need of improvement are the transport infrastructure, broadband provision and the “level of ambition” in local decision making.

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And it calls for more co-operation between Northern cities.

Mr Osborne said: “Our education system must provide the next generation with the skills, inspiration and training to fulfil their goals and build our economy.

“There is now overwhelming evidence that attainment at 16 is too low in the North, leaving us lagging behind the UK and international competitors. We also let go of far too many talented graduates. I will be asking a group of leading employers and education leaders to work together with the partnership to draw on the latest evidence and thinking to examine a number of key issues to put this right.”

Last year, Sir Nick Weller, head of Bradford’s Dixons Academies, released the Northern Powerhouse Schools Strategy, an independent report designed to try to turn around the fortunes of schools in the north.

His report was separate to George Osborne’s report.

After Mr Osborne’s release, Councillor Simon Cooke, leader of the Conservative group on Bradford Council, said: “This is serious thinking done in the North, about the North, by people from the North. That has got to be a good thing.

"I’m not going to agree with everything they churn out, but it is a good, new way of thinking. One interesting point is where it says cities in the North can’t compete internationally with ‘mega’ cities. We have to work together, and that is not just Bradford and Leeds, that includes Liverpool and Manchester too. It is not just about our little bit of the North.”

Cllr Jeannette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Bradford Council, said: “We welcome the support.

"What we’re looking for is a little more action and a little less bureaucracy. Any penny of money that is devolved into the North has all sorts of red tape attached. If George Osborne could cut through that it would be the most supportive thing he could do.”

Council leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, said: “In Bradford we are quite clear that Education and Transport are top priorities in order to create a prosperous future for our city. So the fact that this new report chimes with our analysis is helpful.

"We’re already speaking to Government on both issues, and we were pleased recently to be picked as one of Government’s 12 Education Opportunity areas.

"Bradford is a place of opportunity, we’re at the heart of the north.  If Government is serious about increasing prosperity in the north then Bradford is key to unlocking that ambition.”