Graduates in Yorkshire could help coronavirus catch up plan, education leaders tell Government

The Government have announced a 1bn fund to support a subject specific tutoring programme, aimed at helping pupils in England catch up on lost learning because of school closures. (Photo: shutterstock).The Government have announced a 1bn fund to support a subject specific tutoring programme, aimed at helping pupils in England catch up on lost learning because of school closures. (Photo: shutterstock).
The Government have announced a 1bn fund to support a subject specific tutoring programme, aimed at helping pupils in England catch up on lost learning because of school closures. (Photo: shutterstock).
Calls to the Government to back a South Yorkshire led initiative that will see students and recent graduates trained to provide catch-up support in schools have been made by northern higher education leaders.

Sheffield Hallam University and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) have announced a ground-breaking project that could see hundreds of graduates act as mentors to pupils in South Yorkshire, supporting the £1bn ‘Covid catchup plan’ unveiled by the Government today (June 19).

Fiona Spellman, CEO of Yorkshire education charity Shine, and Henri Murison, director for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, has urged the government to back the initiative.

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In a joint letter written to Michelle Donelan, the minister of State for Universities, the pair stressed how important it is that “the burden of catch up doesn’t fall on teachers alone”.

Pictured, Fiona Spellman, CEO of Yorkshire education charity Shine. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResellPictured, Fiona Spellman, CEO of Yorkshire education charity Shine. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResell
Pictured, Fiona Spellman, CEO of Yorkshire education charity Shine. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResell

Their letter states: “Providing the extra capacity to support pupils to start learning again is a huge challenge for our country. To give this support, we estimate there will need to be a temporary increase of 100,000 to the workforce in schools.

"We need bold ideas, and a country wide response, of the kind we saw to support our NHS was over the last few months".

The call comes as the Government announce a £1bn fund to support a subject specific tutoring programme, aimed at helping pupils in England catch up on lost learning because of school closures.

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Graduates from Sheffield Hallam University are currently being recruited to train as mentors, before being deployed in local schools to work with pupils and teachers.

Henri Murison, director for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResellHenri Murison, director for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResell
Henri Murison, director for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResell

The programme will provide incoming year 11 pupils in the region with a personal mentor, with a focus on disadvantaged pupils who are in danger of falling behind.

A pilot will begin in four schools across South Yorkshire in July, with a view to roll the programme out across more schools in the region for September.

Conor Moss, the Dean of work-Based Learning at Sheffield Hallam University, said the initiative will boost the national effort to support young people, whose education has been "unfairly curtailed by Covid-19 through no fault of their own".

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He said: "This taskforce will act as mentors and role-models, helping pupils to get back in the classroom and succeed after such a long layoff".

Conor Moss, the Dean of work-Based Learning at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "This taskforce will act as mentors and role-models, helping pupils to get back in the classroom and succeed after such a long layoff". Photo credit: otherConor Moss, the Dean of work-Based Learning at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "This taskforce will act as mentors and role-models, helping pupils to get back in the classroom and succeed after such a long layoff". Photo credit: other
Conor Moss, the Dean of work-Based Learning at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "This taskforce will act as mentors and role-models, helping pupils to get back in the classroom and succeed after such a long layoff". Photo credit: other

Mr Murison added the Government investment, including £300m for catch up tutoring over two years, responds to the crisis that those like Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, and Rob Halfon MP, the chair of the Education Select Committee, "recognised when backing the Catch Up Premium".

He said: "Their calls have been answered, along with educators and those of us across civil society which have campaigned on these issues".

Mr Murison said the disadvantage gap affects many Northern communities hardest. He added to give the chance of a better future to those who have faced the greatest barriers with no access to a laptop, internet connection at home or pens and paper to learn, then "our teachers need extra support".

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"Northern universities, including Sheffield Hallam, have already established a mentoring programme to enable those graduates from some of our most disadvantaged communities to contribute to this effort.

"Alongside the Tutor Trust, the North of England needs to pull together, and we will be calling upon the government to ensure we have the capacity we need locally in all our communities to avoid schools not having the choice of locally delivered, high quality support."

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