Vicky Pinkney is Associate Principal of Dyke House Academy in Hartlepool and lead for summer schools at Northern Education Trust. She shares how they will make the most of their school’s exciting summer school plans to support pupils’ transition into secondary school.
Our academies at Northern Education Trust strive to help young people overcome any barrier to learning. That’s why this year, all our secondary academies are running summer schools focusing on year 6 students who will be our new year 7 in September.
This is a great opportunity for our new year 7 students to make friends, meet staff and find their way around the building. For the majority of our academies, the summer school will take place in the first 2 weeks of the summer holidays and involve a wide variety of activities including sports, drama, games and literacy.
Supporting over 1,000 students
The funding allocated by the DfE will allow us to support 1,066 students who will be joining our academies in September.
The aim of our summer school programme is to offer a blend of academic education and enrichment activities. Our objectives are:
- To refresh, improve and develop student literacy skills
- To increase student confidence, build a community with their peers, develop relationships and learn about their new environment
- To have a positive impact on student mental health and wellbeing
- To start positive relationships with the most vulnerable families
- The early identification of individual student needs
Robust risk assessments have been developed in order to ensure the summer schools are COVID secure.
Our summer school theme
Our theme is based around the book ‘The Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates’ by author Jenny Pearson, and this theme runs throughout the literacy sessions. We are delighted that the author of the book will be leading the morning sessions on the first Wednesday. This will happen virtually so all students can take part and it will also be recorded for those academies running their summer schools on different dates. The children will also receive a copy of the book as part of their Student Resource Pack free of charge.
What each day will look like
Each morning has been planned to have a clear focus on developing students‘ literacy skills in an interactive and engaging manner and the afternoon is about developing student confidence, building positive relationships and having a positive impact on student mental health and wellbeing.
| Time | Activity |
| 8:30- 9:00 | Breakfast (provided) |
| 9:00-9:50 | Session 1
Reading based (3 chapters/day) |
| 9:50-10:40 | Session 2 Oracy |
| 10:40-11:10 | Break |
| 11:10-12:00 | Session 3
Creative writing |
| 12:00-12:45 | Lunch provided |
| 12:45-14:45 | Afternoon activity - sporting, arts,
drama/music, media/photography group, food - bake off, science - forensic science |
| 14:45-15:15 | Reflections – (with drink & cookie) recorded in planner to share with parents what they have achieved that day and targets for the next day |
| 15:15-16:15 | Enrichment activity - (voluntary) relaxing activity (yoga, board games, reading café, film club, art) |
Staff interest in running sessions has been very positive. The morning session will be planned and resourced in advance and all teachers are teachers of literacy. Staff decide whether they want to lead an afternoon session or support an external coach.
How we’re engaging with parents and pupils
- All year 6 students allocated a place at a Northern Education Trust secondary academy have been sent a letter with information about the summer schools and asking them to express an interest on a google form.
- All vulnerable students (PP, SEND, LAC and any other student highlighted by primary colleagues) have received a phone call encouraging them to register their interest. Interest so far across the trust has been very positive with all academies on track to have 50% of their new cohort attending.
- At the beginning of July, a final letter will be sent to all attending with information about the plans, celebration event and start and finish times.
- Transition leads in secondary academies have shared a power point with plans for the summer school with all feeder primary school head teachers.
We are very excited about our summer schools and cannot wait to welcome our new students!
Find out more about the summer schools programme
Face-to-face summer schools can offer your pupils a blend of academic support and enrichment activities. You can read the summer schools guidance and find out your school’s funding allocation. To secure funding, schools should confirm arrangements for their summer school by completing the confirmation form by 30 June.
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