FOUR schools in Barrow and Furness are among the 2,820 secondary schools across England that will receive funding through the £200 million Summer School programme.

542,710 pupils are expected to attend a face-to-face summer school this year, with around three quarters of eligible mainstream secondary schools taking part.

The programme is hoped to play a key role in helping pupils catch up on their learning as part of a £3 billion education recovery plan.

The schools that will benefit from the funding are Chetwynde School, Dowdales School, Furness Academy and Walney School.

The summer schools will provide a range of extra-curricular and academic catch-up activities to boost children’s opportunities to catch-up.

Pupils will benefit from learning essential maths and English skills while getting involved in sports, drama, and music – as well as the option of theatre trips, workshops with authors, cooking classes, theatre trips, and sports sessions.

The summer schools will help pupils establish and build friendships before the start of the next school year, improving their confidence and improving mental wellbeing – particularly for Year 7s making the transition up to secondary school.

Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell said: “The pandemic has had a huge impact on the last school year for pupils – and I am committed to helping everyone affected catch up on lost learning and missed experiences before the start of the next academic year.

“The extra £200 million the Conservative Government are investing will help all four of these schools put on summer schools and provide vital learning opportunities for pupils – boosting pupils’ learning and their confidence with extra lessons and extra-curricular activities like sports, music and drama.

“This will help set pupils in Barrow and Furness up for the future, giving them the best opportunity to reach their full potential and get the world class education they deserve.”

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “It is very good to see that so many children will now have the opportunity to enjoy clubs and activities, building friendships and supporting their mental and physical health, alongside their educational progress.

“We have announced £3 billion so far to support education recovery, and are focusing now on helping children catch up ahead of the next academic year. Summer schools are an integral part of the overall effort to recover from the disruption caused by the pandemic."