Nottingham school starts Saturday morning maths lessons in bid to improve results
A CITY school is running Saturday morning maths classes for teenagers in a bid to boost exam results.
Many attend the two-hour sessions at Bulwell Academy to get extra help – while others are there out of choice.
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Head of maths Ashlee Betts with students
The academy started running the sessions just after Christmas and plans to continue them up until the summer exams.
Maths teacher Dawn Edlin said they are growing increasingly popular.
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"We often get 25 to 30 students in on an average Saturday morning," she said. "They are all here out of choice, which is great to see.
"It is much more relaxed than normal lessons in the week. They can go and make themselves a coffee if they want. They are also in smaller groups, so they get much more personal tuition."
Most of the classes involve Year 11 students, though they are open to those in Year 9 and above. They were launched to help drive up results in maths exams.
Last year, 31 per cent of students gained the benchmark of five A* to C grades with English and maths – up from 25 per cent in 2010.
The academy opens between 10am and noon on Saturdays and Laura Jones, 15, said she finds the help invaluable.
She said: "It's really useful when there is something you are finding difficult. You get more time to learn it.
"I feel like I have learned more than I do when I go to lessons during the week."
Sam Brookes, 15, also in Year 11, said: "Maths can be difficult at times. Here you can find out about a good mix of things which is helpful. Hopefully I can get a better grade as a result."
Georgia Blevins, 16, had been predicted G grades in her GCSE maths, but has already brought that up to D thanks to the extra help.
"I've definitely improved," she said. "Hopefully I can start looking at getting a C now.
"I wanted to improve and was willing to give up Saturday mornings to do that."
Jahanzaib Zafar, 15, is doing well at maths but enjoys the subject so much that he attends the sessions. "I come in on Saturdays because it's fun," he said.
Comments
by theCLIFTONION
Monday, March 04 2013, 3:44PM
“Could the obvious success of this Saturday morning class be down to the fact that the more disruptive element amongst the pupils, who don't want to learn anything anyway, are out hanging around the local shops doing nothing in particular, and so are not in attendance?
I
Whatever the reason, well done to those kids who are determined to better themselves by doing well at school.”
by theCLIFTONION
Monday, March 04 2013, 3:44PM
“Could the obvious success of this Saturday morning class be down to the fact that the more disruptive element amongst the pupils, who don't want to learn anything anyway, are out hanging around the local shops doing nothing in particular, and so are not in attendance?
I
Whatever the reason, well done to those kids who are determined to better themselves by doing well at school.”