Scarborough And Whitby MP Hopes Mission Coastal Pilot Will Boost Local Schools in Both Towns

Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume has welcomed the town's selection for the government's pioneering Mission Coastal pilot, expressing hope it will tackle entrenched disadvantage and address the crisis in Special Educational Needs provision.

Earlier this month is was revealed that Scarborough has been selected as one of only two seaside towns in the country to participate in the government's pioneering Mission Coastal pilot, an initiative aimed at raising school standards and tackling entrenched disadvantage. The other area selected for the project is Hastings on the south coast.

Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume says she hopes the programme will provide a significant boost to local schools, particularly concerning Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision.

Alison Hume said:

"I am really excited about Mission Coastal, and I think it will give schools, who do an incredible job, the teachers, and the staff in very difficult circumstances in many cases, a real boost. And by putting money in and bringing people together, I really hope it will improve outcomes for young people.

We have hundreds and hundreds of children currently out of school because their needs are not being met in school because of the lack of provision for special educational needs. I believe that has to be a priority. This is about children who are not getting education now, and if we want to deliver Mission Coastal, it's got to focus on the crisis that we're looking at now."

The programme comes at a critical moment for the Yorkshire Coast. According to national academic attainment measures, disadvantaged pupils in Scarborough currently average around 27 in their GCSE-level qualifications, compared with a national average of 46.

Ms Hume says she hopes the project will ultimately benefit schools across her entire constituency including schools in Whitby.

Alison Hume said:

"Mission Coastal is something I'm really proud to have helped deliver here in Scarborough and Whitby, which will be starting from September.

We've been selected as one of two areas nationally to take part in the pilot, and when I asked them, is it just Scarborough, can we include Whitby, they said, "Oh, we're going to be using the old Scarborough borders, the old borough council."

So I think it will be including a lot of villages and a larger area, but I don't know. I've written to the Department of Education to get that confirmed."

The initiative builds on the success of the landmark London Challenge, which transformed the lives of children in disadvantaged areas of the capital. Under the new programme, pupils will benefit from mentoring and careers support, while expert practitioners will be assigned to work directly with the local teaching community.

Alison Hume said:

"Mission Coastal is designed to tackle entrenched disadvantages in areas like ours and it's inspired by something that the last Labour government did called the London Challenge where they went into deprived schools in London and really raised educational outcomes.

There will be money coming in, but we'll be building new partnerships between schools, employers, youth organizations and clubs."

The decision to select Scarborough follows ministers reviewing evidence gathered through Ms Hume’s public consultations on the Schools White Paper. As co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Coastal Communities, she held a series of local events focusing on SEND provision.

Alison Hume said:

"As part of the work to push for Mission Coastal. I've I held four send consultations across the constituency, three for parents and one for teachers.

And the one for teachers and staff was we held it at Graham school, and the minister Georgia Gould joined us on a live link and took questions directly from the floor, and the feedback was from the head teachers and staff there that they felt it was a really good experience that government came down and met people working at the coal face, and that I'm really proud that I was able to facilitate that."

The announcement has also been welcomed by local education figures.

Local councillor John Ritchie said:

"As a governor at three schools in Scarborough, I'm absolutely delighted that the area was included in the mission coastal strategy, especially given the implementation of the Children's Well-being Act, the enormous difficulties there are with send reform.

It's really good to know that we are the the government recognizes the special needs that there are in this little part of the world."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who launched Mission North-East in tandem with Mission Coastal, emphasized the government's commitment to improving outcomes.

Bridget Phillipson said:

"I grew up in the North East and know the challenges families face. I want every child there, and in coastal communities like Hastings and Scarborough, to have the same opportunities I was lucky enough to have. For too long, children living in these areas have grown up without the opportunities that they need and deserve to be able to achieve and thrive. That is not a matter of ability. It is a matter of justice. Mission North-East and Mission Coastal are our commitment to change that postcode lottery for good."