US-style literacy mentors help GCSE pupils
A volunteer scheme for young Londoners, part-funded by Mayor Boris Johnson's charity, is expanding in an effort to improve secondary school literacy rates.
City Year London will work at King Solomon Academy in Westminster after a successful first year helping at six primary schools in Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets.
The concept comes from the US. Sixty volunteers, aged 18 to 25, many from difficult backgrounds but who have secured jobs, training or further education opportunities, will provide children with the mentors they themselves never had.
From September, the volunteers will help Year 7 pupils with their reading at King Solomon, which replaced North Westminster Community School after investment from the Ark children's charity.
About 25 per cent arrive needing extra help with literacy to have a chance of getting five good GCSEs. Ark said it was "key" to tell pupils: "What these young people have achieved, you can achieve."
