Children and young people across the country have experienced unprecedented disruption to their education as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). Those from the most vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds will be among those hardest hit.

We know that we have the professional knowledge and expertise in the education system to ensure that children and young people recover and get back on track. Returning to normal educational routines as quickly as possible will be critical to our national recovery.

The government has announced £1 billion of funding to support children and young people to catch up. This includes a one-off universal £650 million catch-up premium for the 2020 to 2021 academic year to ensure that schools have the support they need all students make up for lost teaching time.

Objectives 

• We will ensure that the funding benefits those students for whom there is a need.
• We will ensure that the funding makes an impact on the educational outcomes of these students.
• As necessary, we will ensure that the funding provides additional support to improve the progress and achievement of all students, with a particular focus on disadvantaged students.
• We will closely monitor the impact of the strategies put in place so that the ‘gaps’ are closed across all year groups, ability ranges and sub-groups.

The purpose of this statement is to set out how The Bishops’ Blue Coat CoE High School is used the 16 to 19 tuition fund allocation to support students who may have had their learning disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The targeted and strategic use of this fund will reflect our ethos and mission to ensure students are known, nurtured and inspired to ensure the appropriate students benefit from the fund where necessary.

The 16-19 tuition fund was a one-off funding allocation for 20-21 academic year only. The fund was provided to support learners to catch up and close any gaps in their learning that may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown. The fund was planned to be used for small group workshops and 1:1 tuition and is in addition to the planned study programme hours.

Tuition groups of up to five students and the tuition sessions will be in addition to the planned programme of study hours already timetabled for the academic year 2020/21.

Examples of some of the Tuition Support on offered included:

• Topic specific support through designated coaching hubs
• Assessment preparation support
• Academic skills support and development
• Technical Knowledge and skills support to aid mastery and make up for any shortfall from previous learning.
• Specialist Support to improve engagement for learners with SEND

Tuition Support offered was based on an individual need’s assessment, the identification of an individual starting point, clear learning goals, expectations and outcomes.

If you’d like to ask a question about the 16 to 19 Tuition Fund please email: sixthform@bishopschester.co.uk