The Education Secretary has announced the expansion of the opportunity areas programme to a further six areas across England.

In October, Justine Greening announced the first six areas - West Somerset, Norwich, Blackpool,
Scarborough, Derby and Oldham  - which the DfE had identified as in need of prioritised access to wider educational support.

Bradford, Doncaster, Fenland & East Cambridgeshire, Hastings, Ipswich and Stoke-on-Trent have now been added to the list of areas which will see local partnerships formed with early years providers, schools, colleges, universities, businesses, charities and local authorities in order to “break down the barriers to social mobility”.

A new £3.5 million programme will also establish a research school for each of the 12 opportunity areas to lead on the development and dissemination of evidence-led good practice in local schools.