Private school teachers help attainment of disadvantaged pupils

May 19 2008

Teachers in independent schools could soon be working with disadvantaged pupils from nearby state schools as part of a new government initiative.

Ministers Ed Balls and Andrew Adonis have announced a new scheme that aims to help gifted and talented children who are not being challenged enough in their own state school.

Esteemed independent school Eton has signed up to the programme, working to motivate more pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend university, as well as help them improve their results in core subjects including maths and foreign languages.

"We will play our part in helping to raise aspirations and levels of achievement and, in particular encouraging able young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to aim for the best universities," said Eton headteacher Anthony Little.

The initiative will involve pupils from state schools working with those from private schools with , e-learning and video lesson link-ups, careers and university days, joint school projects and master classes, and summer schools.

Alex Hua-Tian, an 18-year-old Eton schoolboy, has been granted this year off school to concentrate on his riding, as he will be representing China in an equestrian event at the Olympic Games in the country.

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