YOUNGSTERS at ten schools in Redditch are set to benefit from summer schools as part of the Government’s £200 million Summer School Programme.

The summer schools will provide a range of extra-curricular and academic catch-up activities to boost young people’s opportunities to catch-up.

The ten schools in Redditch taking part in the programme are: Arrow Vale RSA Academy, Birchensale Middle School, Church Hill Middle School, Ipsley CE RSA Academy, Ridgeway Secondary School, St Augustine’s Catholic High School, St Bede’s Catholic Middle School, Trinity High School and Sixth Form Centre, Tudor Grange Academy and Woodfield Academy.

Pupils will benefit from learning essential maths and English skills while getting involved in sports, drama, and music – as well as the option of theatre trips, workshops with authors, cooking classes, theatre trips, and sports sessions.

It comes as evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) shows that pupils who benefit from summer school programmes can make two months additional progress in comparison to pupils who don’t attend, and up to four months’ extra progress if the summer schools involve small group tuition.

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “The pandemic has had a huge impact on the last school year for pupils – and I am committed to helping everyone affected catch up on lost learning and missed experiences before the start of the next academic year.

“The extra £200 million the Government is investing will help schools in Redditch put on summer schools and provide vital learning opportunities for pupils – boosting pupils’ learning and their confidence with extra lessons and extra-curricular activities like sports, music and drama.

“This will help set pupils in Redditch up for the future, giving them the best opportunity to reach their full potential and get the world class education they deserve.”