Secondary schools are throwing open their doors during the summer holidays to give students a Headstart in key subjects. Week-long Headstart schemes will run at Queen Elizabeth II High School and Ramsey Grammar School at the beginning of the holidays and at Ballakermeen High School and Castle Rushen High School just before the start of the new academic year in September. More than 100 students will benefit from attending these schemes. Jan Gimbert, School Improvement Adviser for 11-19 Education with the Department of Education and Children, explained: ‘Headstart programmes help students to consolidate literacy or numeracy skills, enabling them to tackle difficulties they have had in the past but still having fun while they learn. ‘As literacy and numeracy skills are fundamental to learning in all subject areas, a focus on them prior to starting secondary school gives pupils an extra boost in confidence when they begin the Year 7 curriculum in September.’ Jan continued: ‘The schemes encourage the practice of literacy or numeracy skills in real life contexts to help children see them as an important part of their everyday experience rather than skills that are only useful in the classroom.’ Pupils who would benefit from Headstart have been chosen by secondary schools in liaison with partner primary schools. Secondaries organise and run the schemes but they are financed by the Department of Education and Children. ‘During Headstart, targets are set with pupils and regular individual feedback is given to support improvement. During the week, parents and carers are also encouraged to play an active support role through discussions with their children based around positive experiences with literacy or numeracy,’ Jan said. Headstart has the additional benefit of allowing children to make new friends at their secondary school early on, so the prospect of starting in September becomes less daunting, Jan continued. Eddie Teare MHK, Minister for Education and Children, said: ‘Numeracy and literacy skills play an important part in all aspects of the curriculum, and indeed in all aspects of life, and we are delighted we can give 11-year-olds valuable but fun lessons that are highly relevant to them prior to them starting secondary school.’ Ends