Summer schools can be ‘key to a child’s success in later life’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Summer schools can be ‘key to a child’s success in later life’

4:30pm Wednesday 25th July 2012 in News

HUNDREDS of East Lancashire primary pupils struggling in the classroom will benefit from 20 summer schools in the holidays to help make the step up to secondary education.

In Burnley, three schools will be opening their doors over the break to help some of the most disadvantaged youngsters make the change – Unity College, St John Thursby Community Coll- ege, and Blessed Trinity.

In Blackburn with Darwen four schools will be on summer duty – Blakewater College, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen Vale High School and St Wilfrid’s.

There will be three summer schools in Hyndburn including Accrington Academy, four schools in Pendle including Colne Primet High School, and four in Rossendale including Bacup’s Fearns Community Sports College.

In the Ribble Valley, Ribblesdale will be offering a summer school, as will Southlands High in Chorley.

Burnley Liberal Democrat MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “These summer schools can be the key to a child’s success in later life. The step from primary to secondary school can be a really daunting one for many children.

“If your confidence is knocked back at this stage, it is difficult to recover as a child progresses through the school.

“Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have done the right thing by using these summer schools to prevent people from falling behind rather than trying to help pupils catch-up after the damage has been done.”

He added: “By helping children, and familiarising them with how a secondary schools looks and works, many of the problems can be tackled.

“I will be working with schools to make sure pupils get the most out of the summer school programme.”