In total, 20 per cent of pupils attend underperforming secondary schools in England. But in the North East, 11 out of 12 local authorities have a higher than average share of pupils attending underperforming schools. In the North West, more than three quarters (77 per cent) of local authorities have a higher than average share of pupils attending underperforming schools.
This compares sharply to other parts of the country. Only one in seven (16 per cent) local authorities in London has an above average share, and less than one in five (19 per cent) local authorities in the South East do. The implication is that a secondary school pupil in the North of England is around five times more likely to live in an area with a high share of pupils in underperforming schools than a similar pupil in London or the South East. Significantly reducing their opportunities through higher competition for good school places (pushing up prices in good school catchment areas) and more limited routes to a good or outstanding education.
