Transforming what it means to grow up in South Yorkshire

Greg Burke | Director South Yorkshire Futures Programme | Sheffield Hallam University

Across South Yorkshire, there are fabulous schools and outstanding teachers, but the data tells a challenging story: the young people of South Yorkshire are less likely to achieve good GCSEs, less likely to remain in education and have fewer life opportunities than their peers in other parts of the country. We owe it to our young people to give them the very best start in life. Around the world, there is good evidence that concerted action can make a difference. But that concerted action depends on some key building blocks being in place: ambition for all, honesty about the challenges, a commitment to succeed and a willingness to co-operate to make a difference. South Yorkshire Futures marks a step change in the University’s mission to lead locally and to work with others who share a commitment to achieving the very best.

Greg leads South Yorkshire Futures. This is an area-based programme of work convened by Sheffield Hallam University which will contribute to improving life chances of young people growing up in South Yorkshire. The programme aims to build a shared vision for the role of education in improving social mobility.

Until he took up his current post, he worked as a senior Civil Servant in the Department for Education. He has worked in a wide range of roles in central government. These have included both policy and delivery. He has operated at both the national and regional level, working on a wide range of education policy. He has wide experience of delivery in a complex political environment. Whilst working in North West he led the implementation of policies across the region to support social inclusion. This involved working with a wide range of partners to: understand the problems through data gathering and analysis; agree strategic prioritise; take action; and monitor impact.

106: Transforming what it means to grow up in South Yorkshire is a working session at the AUA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2020. In these mini blogs, our session speakers talk about the journey that lead to this point. Read the full Conference programme here.