Nearly £500,000 to support pupils taking GCSE and A-Levels in South Yorkshire

Following Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s announcement that exams will go ahead in 2021, Barnsley Council is to use the cash that was set aside for school improvement.

The plans were approved during a meeting of Barnsley Council’s ruling cabinet on Wednesday.

A report to councillors states: “Since the start of the pandemic there has been a disproportionate impact on children’s school attendance due to coronavirus, in the north of England.

“Between July 5 and October 25 there have been a total of 217,074 cases in the north, compared with 181,614 for the rest of England.

The reports shows school attendance for year 11 students dropped to 92 per cent during the first half of the 2020-21 term, compared to 94 per cent last year.

A report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies highlighted inequalities for children from disadvantaged and poorer backgrounds and the risk that for these children “the attainment gap will widen due to coronavirus”.

The council will use the cash so pupils can access the internet, technology and study spaces and also provide mentors from Sheffield Hallam University.

A total of £50,000 of the cash will be spent on hardware, £88,000 on a seven-week mentoring programme for 600 pupils, £90,000 for two advisors and £84,703 for community venues and staff to help pupils study.

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