- Secondary schools can now bid for share of £200 million to
run summer schools
- Summer schools will be targeted at children who suffered the
most disruption during the last year
- Part of government commitment to help young people recover
lost learning and build back better from the pandemic
Schools in England can now register to offer a summer school to
help children recover learning they have lost during the
pandemic.
Schools will be encouraged to bid for a share of £200 million in
government funding to design summer schools for students who have
experienced the most disruption.
Incoming Year 7 students will predominantly be encouraged to get
involved, to help them navigate the important transition between
primary and secondary school following a year of disrupted
learning.
Summer schools will include a variety of activities from group
activities such as sports to mental health support and academic
catch up such as maths and English lessons.
Summer schools are one part of £1.7 billion already invested by
the government in ambitious catch-up activity over the next year,
including high quality tutoring.
A longer-term plan to help all students recover from the impact
of the pandemic is currently under development, led by Education
Recovery Commissioner Sir .
Education Secretary
said:
“Our resilient kids are now back in the classroom, seeing their
friends and having all of the benefits that being in school
brings. But we know that time out of school necessary to control
the pandemic has had an impact on the learning of pupils right
across the country. Additional support this summer – on top of
the National Tutoring programme and additional funding for
schools – will help boost learning and wellbeing plus help
prepare those pupils about to start secondary schools.
“We’re supporting schools to plan their summer provision as early
as possible, and making sure parents and pupils themselves have
the notice they need to plan their own summers.
“I am confident that this summer of enrichment and engagement in
academic work will be a great success, tailored to local needs by
the wonderful heads and teachers who best understand the needs of
their students.”
Schools can sign up via an online form on GOV.uk to confirm
their plans, with flexibility for schools to target funding at
other groups of students dependent on their local circumstances.
Parents should expect to hear from their schools over the course
of May and June as they progress with their planning, but it
remains at the discretion of schools which students they target
their summer school offer towards.
The government anticipates that a two week summer school will
give students an opportunity to make up some lost academic ground
before they start a new school.
Summer schools should also offer an opportunity for schools to
support students’ wellbeing, and schools should include
activities such as team games, music, drama or sports activities,
in their plans.
Schools will need to determine how best to use the funding and
staff the scheme to ensure that the extra time is used
effectively.
