Saturday School Lessons are a Big Hit!
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Saturday night was time to "graduate" for pupils from 7 Bolton primary schools and their proud parents as the SHINE: Serious Fun on Saturdays programme at Bolton School drew to a close.
Forty one Year 5 girls and boys have attended Saturday morning sessions at the School since November of last year, enjoying a mix of traditional subjects such as English, Maths, History and the Sciences, as well as more unusual offerings such as Psychology, Russian, Art and Design Technology, Ceramics and Japanese. Pupils also enjoyed new sessions this year in Business Studies and Food Technology.
Whilst the aim was to stretch and inspire young minds on the programme, all the activities were firmly focused on pupil enjoyment and participation. The sessions were aimed at motivated and able pupils who had shown a high level of academic engagement or were perhaps of limited means and who would clearly benefit from furthering their educational development by accessing Bolton School's facilities and teaching expertise.
A range of the pupils' work was on display on the night - everything from Psychology work displays to totem poles! Despite the heavy snow, the evening was very well attended by parents and pupils and also included the Heads and teachers from Bolton School and Sixth Form students. A buffet supper preceded the awarding of certificates of merit.
Pupil Awarish Avrang said: "My favourite activity was Chemistry because we did fun experiments and used a type of paper that changed into different colours. The teachers were really kind and helpful. The sessions have helped me become more confident. The best thing about the programme has been meeting other people."
Another SHINE pupil, Jack Haslam, summed up the feelings of all participants when he said: "I liked everything about SHINE!"
Miss Louise Dickinson, Bolton School's Coordinator of the SHINE programme, was delighted with how well the programme had gone: "It has been wonderful to watch these bright children develop over the course. Their parents told me of the transformation they have seen in their children and have been amazed that they have been so enthusiastic about coming in to school lessons on a Saturday! As ever, I am also indebted to my teaching colleagues and our Sixth Form students, who have been excellent mentors and they too have really enjoyed watching the children develop through the programme."
The scheme was run in partnership with the SHINE charitable trust, with fifty per cent of the funding for the project coming from the educational charity, whilst Bolton School provided the other half.
