SHINE: Support and Help in Education - SHINE on Saturdays - One of our core programmes, SHINE on Saturdays helps underachieving children at both primary and secondary schools by injecting 20% extra tuition into every school week, accelerating and complementing their classroom learning.

SHINE on Saturdays

An innovative step forward for 'extended learning' on Saturdays

How it works

The SHINE on Saturday programme provides 150 hours of additional and creative learning every year, designed to boost achievement levels.

Each project is based at a school and runs for 30 Saturdays a year, working with between 60 and 80 underachieving students at primary or secondary level. In some instances all students come from the host school and in others they are drawn from a cluster of local schools.

What it aims to do

Each project is unique but there is a shared basic model, which means that they all:

exist for students who are underachieving, in relation to their peers or compared to what they could achieve if they were stretched
are designed to be distinctive from, but complementary to, the school week
have students and tutors (instead of pupils and teachers), with small classes grouped by ability and older students to act a peer mentors
emphasise excitement, enrichment and activity-based learning – each term has a main theme, supported by investigative learning in literacy, mathematics, science and technology
have an absolute commitment to raising expectations, attaining high standards and demonstrating improved performance
have clear learning outcomes as their starting point and main focus

SHINE's support

A grant to set up the first SHINE On Saturday programme at Millfields community school was made in 2001. Following its success SHINE has since approved grants for a further sixteen programmes, including five at secondary level. SHINE provides full or part funding for three years and reduced funding in the fourth year. SHINE is currently supporting SHINE on Saturday programmes for nearly 700 students a year from more than 50 schools across eight London boroughs.

SHINE works with each of the SHINE on Saturday project managers to monitor the academic progress made by students and to carry out both internal and independent evaluations of the teaching and learning. This includes looking at national standardised predictions and test results for aptitude and ability (CATs and SATs), teacher assessment, work samples, student and parent feedback and Ofsted evaluations.

In order to set up new programmes effectively, SHINE believes it is essential to provide practical as well as financial support. Consequently, SHINE has developed the SHINE on Saturday manual, which is used by staff in the planning and delivery of each new project. The manual provides guidance and materials for the main areas of the project (for example, timetabling, staffing and training, students, premises, finance curriculum, monitoring and evaluation). SHINE has also facilitated SHINE on Saturdays away days for headteachers and project staff from all schools to come together.

"SHINE is not just more of the same, it is different, exciting and stimulating."

SHINE on Saturdays Teacher

"I don't want to go to my Nan's... in case I miss SHINE!"

SHINE on Saturdays Student

"Many children want to learn more... many teachers want to teach more. SHINE on Saturdays means that they no longer need to be constrained by lack of time and resources."