AN MP will speak of his “deep anger” about the attainment gap between North-East secondary schools and the rest of the country in a debate in the House of Commons today.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke secured the debate after both Freebrough Academy in Brotton and Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough were rated inadequate by Ofsted, the lowest possible rating.

He will use the debate to highlight how the North-East ranks second out of the nine English regions when it comes to Primary school outcomes, but slumps to ninth out of nine when it comes to Secondary school outcomes.

He says the problem is particularly stark in Redcar and Cleveland, which covers both Freebrough and Laurence Jackson.

Only 57 per cent of secondary schools in the North-East are rated good or outstanding, compared to the national average of 75 per cent.

Mr Clarke said: “A young person for whom opportunities are being slammed shut almost before they become aware of them, and for whom adult life is that bit less likely to deliver the fulfilment, both economic and emotional, that it is our duty to help promote.

“This is happening for no other reason than because they are happening to grow up in the wrong place. Our children are no less talented than those born anywhere else, and this is a question of social justice.”