Serious Fun on Saturday @ Alleyn's School, Dulwich College and James Allen's Girls' School
The grant recipient
The London borough of Southwark includes some of the most deprived wards in the UK and ranks 13th in the National Index of Multiple Deprivation. Although a high proportion of the population is well educated there are still 20% who have no formal qualifications and there is high unemployment. Southwark Community Education Council (SCEC) has a strong track record of establishing long lasting partnerships and successful out-of-school-hours programmes with the three independent schools in the area and is SHINE’s partner to deliver the Serious Fun on Saturdays programme @ Alleyn's, Dulwich and James Allen's.
The programme
- Saturday morning sessions all year
- for over 100 students from 10 state maintained primary schools in Southwark
- sessions are taught by teachers from the independent and state sectors
- three separate strands:
- Dulwich College – a series of specialist small group classes in maths, science, English, ICT and drama
- James Allen's Girls' School – intensive literacy tuition for groups of seven, led by a teacher and supported by one-to-one student mentors
- Alleyn's School – master classes designed to challenge and broaden the mathematical experience of gifted students
Latest results
- on the maths scheme at Alleyn's School 32 students registered for 19 sessions - only two students dropped out
- at the Dulwich College scheme, no student was still well below the level expected at the end of KS2
- one child who attends the James Allen's literacy scheme progressed in their reading by three years
The funding
SHINE has made a grant for running costs and worked with SCEC to secure further funding from the DfES. In-kind support is also provided by each of the independent schools.
Funding: £67,728, to Southwark Community Education Council, over five years (2004-9)
Visit websites for Dulwich College http://www.dulwich.org.uk, Alleyn’s School http://www.alleyns.org.uk and James Allen’s Girls’ School http://www.jags.org.uk
"I haven't heard a negative word about the Saturday School. The children find it enjoyable and challenging... they don't want to miss it - they'd rather miss something else - even football!"
Teacher, Serious Fun on Saturdays
"SCEC owes SHINE a huge debt of gratitude for their financial support, which is enabling us to consolidate our work with children from Southwark primary schools and evaluate the element of added-value gained by attending any one of the schemes. The partnership between state and independant schools and their students brings educational and social benefits all round."
Chairman, SCEC
Quotes
"I haven't heard a negative word about the Saturday School. The children find it enjoyable and challenging... they don't want to miss it - they'd rather miss something else - even football!"
Teacher, Serious Fun on Saturdays
"SCEC owes SHINE a huge debt of gratitude for their financial support, which is enabling us to consolidate our work with children from Southwark primary schools and evaluate the element of added-value gained by attending any one of the schemes. The partnership between state and independant schools and their students brings educational and social benefits all round."
Chairman, SCEC