Congratulations to all students in the city who received A level and GCSE results this week. Well done to you and your teachers for pulling out all the stops and working creatively through the challenges of the pandemic.

Worryingly, the divide between private and state schools in achieving top A-level results has widened considerably this year, with a 50 per cent higher grade increase among private pupils than state, according to government data.

So, what needs to be done to reduce this risk to our children’s future?

Cash-strapped state schools and councils must be given adequate funding. We need extra training and support for teachers, and to allow students to repeat their final year if it was badly affected by the pandemic.

But when government revealed its plan, the £1.4 billion allocated was a fraction of the £15 billion recommended by Sir Kevan Collins, the education recovery commissioner appointed by Downing Street.

Brighton and Hove Labour councillors are committed to campaigning for action on closing the attainment gap.

But we urgently need government recognition of how vital it is to invest properly and quickly in the young people who are the future of our city and our country.

Read Councillor John Allcock’s full column in Brighton and Hove News here.

Photo credit, Creative Commons.