As he visits Leeds today, Stephen Twigg, Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby and shadow education secretary writes exclusively for the Guardian Northerner. He argues that "fantastic" things are happening in northern schools despite, not because of, the Government's policies.
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Stephen Twigg addressing Labour's conference in Manchester this month. Photograph: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
As someone who has been an MP in London and now represents a seat in Liverpool, I have something of a perspective on the differences between North and South.
One of the privileges of my job is the chance to visit towns and cities in the North. Although places like Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle have long had a rich seam of culture, creativity and commerce, in the last fifteen years there has been an incredible renaissance in these urban centres. You see it not just in the physical regeneration, but in the confidence and ambition of people, despite the huge squeeze they are now feeling on their living standards.
Unfortunately, the Conservatives seem to want to divide people in the North against those in the South, with Government cuts falling harder on less well off areas. It's why Ed Miliband's One Nation appeal is so important.
The Education Secretary, Michael Gove is ignoring some of the major concerns that parents and teachers have in the North. He has tried to divide children into sheep and goats, leaving many behind.
Today, I am visiting Leeds to meet with parents, pupils and teachers who have been the vanguard of the fight against the GCSE English fiasco. At least 369 pupils from 18 schools across Leeds (the true figure is likely to be higher) have had their English GCSE downgraded – all because they took their exam in June, rather than in January.
Michael Gove has said he will do nothing to help those young people who simply want to continue studying, but are being held back. He has the power to call a full inquiry and order a regrade, but refuses to do so, even though one has already happened in Wales.
Before the election, he said "ministers should be held accountable" for the exam system, but now he is in power, he has washed his hands, leaving young people on the scrapheap. It's ridiculous that pupils and teachers are suffering the stress and inconvenience of re-sits all because of Michael Gove's incompetence.
Leeds City Council, along with teachers such as Simon Flowers from Carr Manor Community School and John Townsley from Farnley Academy, have been leading a coalition from across the country to call for a judicial review into this injustice. Labour stands full square behind them.
But it's not just GCSEs. Michael Gove has done nothing to help young people who want to prepare themselves for the jobs of the future. He ignores the 50 per cent of students who choose a vocational route – doing important practical skills like engineering, construction or ICT.
Instead, Labour will develop a system that works for all students, and meets the challenge of pupils staying on until 18. Alongside a rigorous vocational route – a gold standard 'Technical Baccalaureate' – we want all pupils, whether you choose academic or practical courses to study English and Maths until the age of 18 and get quality work experience. We lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to these skills, and employers tell me they are critical for the modern economy.
The other issue I know many parents are worried about is primary school places, where we have a crisis across the country. It's a real problem in the South, but also in places like Lancashire, Manchester and Leeds.
Rachel Reeves, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, who will join Stephen Twigg in Wortley. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian I will be visiting Five Lanes Primary School in Wortley along with Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves to discuss the growing shortage of primary school places with the head, Jo Fiddes.
In Leeds, 549 parents missed out on any of their choices of primary school this year. Official estimates suggest schools in Leeds will need space for nearly 10,000 more pupils by the next election in 2015.
Many children are being squeezed into temporary classrooms or overcrowded buildings because the Government has slashed the budget for education buildings by 60%. At the same time, Michael Gove is wasting millions on new schools in parts of the country where there are already enough places.
Throwing darts at a map is not the way to sort this crisis. That is what led to the chaos of a free school in Bradford being cancelled just 8 days before it was due to open, when parents had already bought uniforms for their children.
He must get a grip. Labour would allow good local councils to create new schools to deal with this issue – something the current Tory-led Government fails to do.
I don't want to be too negative. I know there are fantastic things happening in schools, colleges and children's centres in Leeds and across the North. But my worry is that they are happening in spite of the agenda of this divisive Government.