Coronavirus: Private schools offer to open their doors for summer catch-up sessions
The offer to help comes the same week the government is set to announce its own schools catch-up scheme.
Wednesday 17 June 2020 12:43, UK
Several private schools are offering to open up their buildings and grounds over the summer for children who have missed out on studying due to the ongoing pandemic, the independent schools chief has said.
A number of fee-paying schools have had their events cancelled or postponed in the summer months, meaning they have more capacity to help pupils amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Independent Schools Council (ISC), the body that represents more than 1,300 private schools in the UK, has written a letter to Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, to offer its support and help "close the disadvantage gap", after COVID-19 put a stop to schools fully re-opening.
In the letter, the ISC says: "If a national scheme can be organised and catch-up courses can be delivered regionally, independent schools will willingly support extra tuition provision in whatever practical ways they can: providing classrooms, catering and other staffing as far as they are able."
Julie Robinson, the chief executive of the ISC said that six independent schools, including Kings College School Wimbledon and Bury Grammar School, have already offered to run their own catch-up classes at their own cost.
It comes as the government is set to announce its own plans for a summer study programme this week.
Ms Robinson also said that 80% of private schools have expressed an interest in running the courses if they were offered the funding to do so, adding: "It's really important for us that we're not overlooked as a sector. It would be a total shame. I think it would be a loss to the country, a loss to the joint effort.
"There are independent schools who won't have their usual holiday time bookings and will have space available. Not so much in term time, because owing to the distancing requirements they can't get all of their own pupils in, but in the downtime independent schools can potentially host.
"Independent schools are poised ready to support and provide a venue for extra catch-up work."
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The principle and headteacher at Bury Grammar School Jo Anderson is hoping to be able to run catch-up sessions for the first time in August, for year 10 and 12 pupils who have exams next year, as well as those from state schools - should current guidelines allow it.
She said: "We're aware that, you know, potentially here we have a generation of young people, not just here in our school but nationally, that have missed out and that's heartbreaking.
"So, if it were possible - but that's a big if, of course - we would absolutely love to support pupils in other schools.
"I know there's been talk about supporting pupils from a welfare perspective and a mental health perspective and that's something I think that Bury Grammar School is also really very good at.
"There is very much a will in this school to support not only our own pupils, but any other young people whose parent schools feel it would be of a benefit to them to come and spend some time here."