Peterborough school children to benefit from BGL grant

The new project will provide free after-school tuition to help local year 11 pupils catch up with classes they may have missed so they can achieve their expected results in their GCSE exams next year.

Mohammed Saeed, vice chair, Community First Peterborough, said: “Throughout lockdown we have been aware of the impact on local kids. We know that some students have found it difficult to follow online classes and we understand that parents are worried that they won’t achieve the grades they were hoping to because of the gap in their studies.

“We will do everything we can to make sure they get the support they need to take their next steps in education and training.”

The classes will be initially at Thomas Deacon Academy but will then be rolling out to Jack Hunt School and then other schools. The team will be working with the schools to find pupils who will be enrolled in sessions which will be in maths, English and science for one hour once a week.

The scheme, which is likely to cater for 50 pupils, is funded until January.

The teaching team is being coordinated by local volunteer Fiona Yardley, senior lecturer in mathematics education at Canterbury Christ Church University.

She said: “These have been exceptional times and we are aware that this year’s Year 11s have been trying to learn in extremely challenging circumstances which has affected their learning in many ways.

“We will be building tailored programmes for our students, training assistants and developing a range of resources to make sure students have the support they need to catch up and achieve the grades they need in their GCSEs.”

Community First is currently recruiting a team of teachers, classroom assistants and A-Level students to support the pupils. Those who would like to get involved should contact Community First on [email protected] or Helen Walkinshaw, Community Development Worker, on 07949301462