From Super Neighbours to East Kent PPE, we have seen our community coming together in so many ways to make a difference during the pandemic. Making sure that young people aren’t left behind is one of the great challenges posed by it.
Voluntary and school ‘catch up’ summer schemes are a great idea to help children be ready for the September start of a new school year. That’s why I am supporting the Kent Pop-up Invicta Summer Academy, which delivers high quality online learning through the summer months and so far seems to have been a huge success. Organisers say more than 20,000 lesson places have been snapped up in three days.
Looking to broaden the educational offer amid coronavirus, as well as give parents, teachers and school leaders a much-needed break, the Summer Academies offer daily, online, live and interactive tutorials in core subjects delivered by qualified teachers. They also try to provide inspiration through weekly ‘Aim High’ sessions, the first of which was delivered by double Olympic Gold Medallist Lizzy Yarnold.
The Academy is the brainchild of former academy Governor and Sevenoaks District Councillor Anna Firth and Folkestone primary school teacher Stephen James, who have recruited a team of willing volunteers and over 85 qualified teachers to deliver lessons.
It’s also been backed by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said: “Activities which support the education and well-being of children will no doubt be beneficial ahead of their return to school in September. The pop up online school, Invicta Summer Academy in Kent, is a great example of the community coming together to provide support for local children. This summer, schools can use their catch-up premium funding, part of our £1billion package, to set up summer schools. The Government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme is also running in 17 local authority areas and holiday clubs are able to open their doors to all children from the end of term.”
More information about how to be involved can be found here: www.invictaacademy.com