Last updated at 17:40, Sunday, 03 February 2013

SECONDARY schools across South Cumbria have received £450,000 to provide intensive classes for pupils who have fallen behind in literacy and maths.

The national £500 per pupil “catch-up premium” is for Year Seven children who did not reach the expected levels in literacy and maths when they finished primary school.

Figures from the Department for Education show that only five per cent of pupils who did not manage to get Level Four in both English and maths at Key Stage Two went on to achieve five GCSEs at A* to C, including English and maths.

To help children like these catch up and strive for better GCSEs, schools will spend the funding on additional support through either individual tuition or intensive sessions in small groups.

The extra support is designed to help bring pupils up to speed so they are more likely to succeed at secondary school, rather than falling further behind. Schools have the freedom to decide how best to use the money.

Furness Academy in Barrow has been given £24,000 of the funds while Dowdales School in Dalton has got £21,500.

Douglas Blackledge, principal of Furness Academy, said: “Any additional funding is most welcome. We are currently considering the most effective way of using the additional resource to the greatest benefit for our students.”

Elsewhere in South Cumbria, Walney School received £16,000 and St Bernard’s Catholic High School in Barrow got £15,500.

Ulverston Victoria High School was handed £12,000 to help its pupils, while Cartmel Priory CE School has been given £8,500.Millom School took £5,000 and the Lakes School at Troutbeck Bridge got £4,500. Meanwhile, George Hastwell School in Walney got £4,000, Sandside Lodge School in Ulverston £3,500, and John Ruskin School in Coniston £2,500.

Schools minister David Laws said: “It is vital that every child has a strong grasp of maths and a good reading ability when starting their secondary education. No pupil should be left behind.

“Our Year Seven catch-up premium for literacy and maths – £500 for every pupil needing extra help – will ensure that support is best targeted to those who most need it. Despite a tough economic climate, this coalition government is making sure all children get the help they need to succeed.”

First published at 16:46, Friday, 01 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk