Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, is proud to support the Northern Powerhouse APPG’s open letter to the Education Secretary, calling for a ‘catch up premium’ for disadvantaged pupils.
This follows work by Mayor Jarvis on closing the "digital divide" in South Yorkshire and ensuring that all children have access to appropriate technology and a reliable internet connection.
Commenting, Mayor Jarvis said: “I am pleased to support this important and timely campaign by the Northern Powerhouse APPG to ensure that the Coronavirus crisis doesn’t worsen inequality for children from the most deprived backgrounds.
“The digital divide is a vitally-important issue affecting communities across South Yorkshire. I am working closely with local schools, further and higher Education institutions, education trade unions, third-sector organisations and the Labour Party front bench to ensure that every child has access to suitable technology and a reliable internet connection.
“I welcome the Government’s announcement that laptops and 4G routers will be made available to care leavers, children with social workers and those in exam years but this must go further to ensure that no child is left behind because of the digital divide.
"Where you grow up should not determine where you end up.”
