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<p>Against a background of rising standards, disadvantaged pupils in schools are catching
up with their peers as since 2011, the attainment gap in England has narrowed by 9.5%
at age 16 and 13.2% at age 11. Our reforms and the extra funding provided through
the pupil premium have contributed to this success.</p><p>This year, schools in the
North of England are receiving £787 million in additional funding through the pupil
premium to improve the outcomes of their disadvantaged pupils. The Department has
made available a wide range of resources to help schools make the greatest possible
impact with their pupil premium grant.</p><p>The Department is investing £72 million
in the 12 Opportunity Areas to tackle barriers preventing children and young people
from achieving their potential. This is at the heart of our work to learn what works
best in areas with entrenched social mobility barriers so we can roll out successful
approaches across the country. Five of the areas targeted are in the North of England
(Blackpool, Oldham, Bradford, Doncaster, and the North Yorkshire Coast) and in addition
we have Opportunity North East. The Department is investing over £70 million to boost
educational outcomes in the North, including through the Northern Powerhouse Schools
Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>Widening access and participation in higher education (HE)
is a priority. Everyone with the ability to succeed in HE should have the opportunity
to participate, regardless of their background or where they grew up.</p><p>The Department
has made real progress in ensuring universities are open to all. However, we are aware
that more needs to be done to ensure that background isn’t a barrier to realising
potential in HE.</p><p>In our latest guidance to the Office for Students on access
and participation, we asked them to secure greater, faster progress, particularly
at the most selective institutions, through Access and Participation Plans. Through
these plans, universities set out what activities they intend to take to ensure students
from disadvantaged backgrounds or under-represented groups can access, participate,
succeed and progress from HE.</p>
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