When i was a kid i hated Saturday school – but it did teach me to read and write pretty well.  I am pleasantly surprised to see Saturday school and after hours teaching in Kings Cross.  Thanks to a back to basics project called supplementary schools by Civitas and the New Model School Company.  You can read about the different flavour in this teacher’s blog here.  This is how their website describes it.

‘Our teachers use a no-frills approach which concentrates on high quality teaching along traditional lines to enable children to master basic skills quickly. We emphasise phonics-based reading and mental arithmetic. We want children to be able to read fluently, spell accurately, know their times-tables and do long division. We also try to teach them a little bit about the history of this country and its institutions.’

King’s Cross Saturday School
2pm – 5pm, York Way Court Community Centre, Islington       

‘As word of the success of the Sanaton Saturday School spread in the Bangladeshi community, we were asked to open a similar school for children living on a housing estate near King’s Cross station. Classes began in January 2005, in association with the Thornhill Neighbourhood Project. We have a waiting list, as well as requests from parents for us to start a class for secondary-age children.’
       

King’s Cross Evening Lessons
5.30pm – 7.30pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays, York Way Court Community Centre

‘The first two Civitas supplementary schools were attended by children from ethnic minorities who belong to very strong community groups. However, we would see other youngsters hanging around on the King’s Cross estate, often behaving in an anti-social manner. We were keen to reach out to all children, regardless of race or religion. Most do not belong to any strong community groups so we delivered leaflets door-to-door around the estate advertising after-school lessons for six- to eleven-year-olds. We were amazed by the positive reaction. At the start of the first open evening there was a crowd of parents at the community centre gates eager to talk to us. Nearly all expressed great anxieties about their children’s education and were very enthusiastic about the prospect of extra lessons. Due to the popularity we now run two separate evening classes.’

Let me know what you think – also I would like to feature more of a parent’s view on this site but lack the necessary children myself – let me know if you are interested in contributing.