Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that Summer Schools for disadvantaged young people in York will benefit from an extra £100million in government funding. This will ensure that this year’s successful Summer School programme will be secure for a further two years, as well as giving new schools the opportunity to take part.

This summer 5 schools in York took part in the programme which aims to help pupils make the step-up from primary to secondary school. All pupils who receive free school meals or are ‘in care’ are eligible for the scheme. Schools receive £500 for each pupil for a 2 week Summer School and £250 per pupil for a 1 week Summer School.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, Children and Young People on City of York Council, commented:

“I am delighted that the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have secured this extra investment for the Summer School programme.

“Too often students who have made consistent progress through the school year can fall behind over the summer holidays, particularly if they are making the transition to a new and bigger school. Students from poorer backgrounds are especially vulnerable to this.

“The feedback I received from schools this year was that the programme offered students a significant boost and really helped them get use to their new school environment. It is excellent news that extra funding has now been secured for this programme and I hope that more York schools will consider taking part next summer.”

Over 150 youngsters took part this summer in 5 local schools:
– Archbishop Holgate’s School
– Canon Lee
– Huntington School
– All Saints RC School
– The Joseph Rowntree School

Schools designed a two-week curriculum to help pupils which included:

• Extra brain training: additional intensive support in English and mathematics, both as catch up and preparation for the secondary curriculum.
• Get to know you: meeting teachers, having a tour of the school or learning more about their new curriculum to help pupils familiarise
themselves with their new environment.
• Motivation: wider enrichment activities such as arts, music and sports activities, visits to local higher education institutions and employers.

Summer School funding allocations are based on disadvantaged pupils – specifically those who are registered as eligible for free school meals and those who have been looked after in public care continuously for at least six months.