THE North of England schools chief should be accountable to the new Liverpool City Region metro mayor, Labour candidate Steve Rotheram will say today (Wednesday) during a Westminster debate on education in Merseyside.

Mr Rotheram, hotly tipped to become metro mayor in May 2017, says he wants to develop a city region education strategy to raise standards for local pupils and build the "high-skill, high wage and high aspiration economy of the future".  

The Walton MP will call on the Government to reinstate local accountability by making the regional schools commissioner answerable to the Metro Mayor. 

At present, eight regional leaders cover England and report only to the Secretary of State for Education in Westminster on their work to tackle underperforming schools and advise on proposals for new free schools.

Mr Rotheram will say they are unable to adequately consider the needs of local schools in the Liverpool City Region, which includes St Helens, Knowsley, Halton, Sefton and Wirral, as well as Liverpool.

He will also criticise Theresa May's decision to reinstate grammar schools. 

The metro mayor hopeful, who will officially launch his campaign later this month, will say in the debate: "The problem in Merseyside is not the level of attainment of the top 20 per cent - it's the level of attainment of the rest. 

"We need an education system that lifts the attainment of all, not just the most gifted and talented. That is why I am calling for the return of an element of local accountability."

He will add: "The minister should make the regional schools commissioner accountable to the metro mayor. I truly believe that if the Government is serious about devolution then they need to apply to education the same approach they are applying to industrial strategy." 

Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Rotheram said: "Failing to give the metro mayor any responsibility for pre-16 education effectively ties one hand behind the back of the metro mayor.

"This is because ensuring young people receive the education and opportunities they need is key to building the high-skill, high wage and high aspiration economy of the future."

Steve Rotheram was announced as Labour's mayoral candidate in the Liverpool City Region in August, after battling off competition from Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and Labour MP for Wavertree Luciana Berger.

Mr Rotheram is a former bricklayer who served on Liverpool City Council before being elected as MP for Liverpool Walton in 2010.