Every August, school leaders in the north of England brace themselves for the inevitable 鈥� yet misguided 鈥� comparisons. News outlets bemoan the 鈥渘orth-south divide鈥� in GCSE results. Former Ofsted chiefs criticise 鈥渕iserable鈥� outcomes. Headteachers prepare to be told they鈥檙e letting children down. But in the north east, those leaders have a powerful friend waiting […]