Independent schools help state pupils

13 February 2007

Independent school teachers are to give state school pupils extra help with science, maths and language lessons, Schools Minister Andrew Adonis has announced (12 February 2007).
  
From spring term 2007, a £2.2 million package will fund 18 new Independent/State School Partnership (ISSP) projects, most of which will last until July 2008.  All the partnerships involve at least one independent and three maintained schools, with some extending authority wide.

Speaking today, Pat Langham, President of the Girls' School Association and member of ISSP, said:

"These ISSP projects enhance the educational experience of every pupil and teacher who participates. They are collaborative ventures ensuring that each school is respected as a distinctive institution and is valued for what it has accomplished and can do, not for the sector it is in. These are true and valued partnerships."

Among the successful applicants are:
• York City partnership, involving three independent schools (Bootham, St Peter's and The Mount) and all maintained secondary schools. York is a designated Science City and the partnership will focus on raising pupils' awareness and understanding of the scope and application of science and applied science skills in all areas of life. There will be a programme of masterclasses and workshops, involving relevant experts, that reflect the contribution that science makes to the community, the arts and heritage sectors
• St Saviour's and St Olave's CE School, Southwark is leading a partnership involving one independent (James Allen's Girls) and four maintained schools. The partnership will build on existing links, and focus on increasing the proportion of students opting for modern foreign languages in Key Stage 4 and 5 and continuing their studies into higher education, with emphasis on increasing the proportion of encouraging boys choosing language at all stages of their education. It will provide a network for teaching minority languages, including oriental languages. The partnership will also aim to increase the proportion of students choosing to study extended science courses at GCSE, in the sixth form and go on to study science-based higher education courses, with a particular emphasis on girls choosing physics at all levels.

Please contact Alex Caish at ISC on 0207 766 7060 for a complete list of the successful projects.