The Department of Education has announced the availability of funding to support students whose learning was disrupted as a result of the COVID pandemic.

This 16-19 Tuition Fund is available to all 16 to 19 providers including Bishop Stopford’s School’s Sixth Form and is ring-fenced for 16 to 19 small group tuition only.

The funding can be used to support small group tuition for 16 to 19 students in English, maths, and other courses where learning has been disrupted. The guidance indicates that the supported students must be on a 16 to 19 study programme and have not achieved grade 4 or above in GCSE maths and/or English by age 16.

We will be providing small group tuition for up to 5 students per group (7 in exceptional circumstances) in English and Maths and will be prioritising students based on the following criteria:

• have not yet achieved a grade 4 in GCSE English and/or maths and are applying for University this academic year
• have not yet achieved a grade 4 in GCSE English and/or maths and are completing a one year Foundation course this academic year
• have not yet achieved a grade 4 in GCSE English and/or maths and are starting a Level 3 programme of study this academic year.
• have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan
• are on the SEND register
• are a Looked after Child.

Tuition will take place outside of allocated lesson times and will be scheduled in blocks of lessons.

In the autumn term, we will be focusing on those students who narrowly missed gaining a Grade 4 last summer and/or those students who are currently applying to UCAS in advance of the November re-sit window. Students who fall outside of these groups will begin tuition from January.