More than 30 students from Oakley Vale and Beanfield Primary schools signed up for the two-hour lessons that are taking place once a week during the Easter holidays.

Students from Year 9 were given training on how to help the Year 6 students. Hania Mazur said ‘I wanted to help the Year 6s and encourage them to see that maths isn’t boring. It’s a fantastic way for them to improve and for me to help them.

The first booster session focused on fractions and a maths relay. Brooke Weston's Head of Key Stage 3 maths  Ms Roisin Fernando said ‘These sessions are really important as we didn’t want the Year 6 students to have two weeks away from learning in the run-up to the SATs. Just attending these sessions and practicing the basic skills will help with retention. It also gets them excited about coming  to secondary school in September, especially those that will be coming to Brooke Weston and it also builds their confidence in maths.’

From September Ms Fernando will also  be spending a day a week at Oakley Vale and Beanfield Primary Schools: ‘I am really enjoying working with the Year 6s and feel like I am helping to make a difference. It’s useful as I am experienced in teaching ways that haven’t been seen in the schools and vice versa with some methods that the teachers in primary use, helping us to share best practice. We work together and come up with better ways of teaching. This first booster session has been amazing, both the Year 9s and Year 6s have really enjoyed it and have learnt a great deal in a short amount of time.’

Student Rhiannon Ruthven from Beanfield Primary School said ‘Today has been lots of fun. The lessons boost your learning and give you an idea of what secondary school will be like. We have our SATS in a few weeks’ time and I didn’t want to forget everything that I have learnt so I wanted to come in during my holidays.’

Student James Hughes from Oakley Vale Primary said ‘I enjoy maths and these lessons really help as they are extra revision for my SATS. We have been going over parts that we find more difficult. I have really enjoyed the day.’

Executive Principal Trish Stringer said ‘I am incredibly proud of all the Year 6 students who have given up their time during the holidays to focus on their development and the Year 9 students who  have volunteered to help them. It is a fantastic example of the excellent attitudes and commitment that each and every one of the teachers and students have across the Trust, and of what we can achieve when we work together. The work that Roisin has been doing in the Trust schools has made an incredible difference to both  teachers and students. The success of this has meant that from September we will be increasing her time within the primary schools to ensure that we develop all of our Trust students to the maximum of their abilities.’