Covid-19 Response
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in children and young people being cut off from their support networks and their education for many months, with very damaging consequences on learning, wellbeing and mental health. Sir Kevan Collins, the government’s Catch-up Tsar and former Chief Executive of the Educational Endowment Foundation has said the most disadvantaged lost up to seven months' progress as a result of the pandemic.
“I think we need to think about the extra hours not only for learning, but for children to be together, to play, to engage in competitive sport, for music, for drama because these are critical areas which have been missed in their development."
–– Sir Kevan Collins
Over 500 students attended KIT-funded Summer and Easter camps.
Over 100 pupils continued 1:1 instrumental tuition and Duke of Edinburgh Award during lockdown.
74 per cent of students gave the Performing Camps a 5/5 rating.
Over 80% of attendees of the Well-being Camp said they felt happier by the end of the programme than when they had started
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Intrepidus Trust supported the following programmes with a focus on children’s broader needs:
Summer and Easter Schools providing sports, fine art, performing arts, and English language camps as well as academic catch up.
Chromebooks to aid home learning by Year 7 pupils
Learning and Achievement Rewards (either a National Book Token or WHSmith voucher) for pupils during lockdown. Teachers also carried out visits to pupils' homes to award certificates.
Sustaining the Duke of Edinburgh Award and individual instrumental tuition remotely throughout lockdown
Extra specialist provision for new learners of English identified as at particular risk of falling behind.
“I have just come back from providing Mozamel with his certificate! He was welling up with joy! He wanted to pass on his thanks to everyone. What a lovely idea and morale boost for the teachers!”
— Miss Kruk, Geography teacher
“When I found out I had received an award for my efforts and achievements last year, I felt very shocked, excited, proud of myself and thankful because I felt my hard work had paid off. I plan to spend my voucher on books to read and stationery because it could be very useful when I go back to school.”
— Naomi, Year 7
200 pupils received Learning Rewards, maintaining motivation and high attendance during lockdown
100 per cent of those attending the ‘English as an Additional Language’ camp agreed that they were more prepared to return to school.
27 pupils who are new to English are receiving intensive catch-up tuition from an EAL specialist.
100 chromebooks distributed to Year 7 pupils to ensure they had a suitable device during home schooling and for homework.
