15/05/2026
In Easter 2025, we took a big step toward one of our strategic priorities – to evolve our model to boost the support we offer pupils with the tricky transition from primary to secondary school. We did this with our week-long STEAM Ahead pilot programme in the Spring festive school holidays, working in partnership with KORI Youth Charity and Mott MacDonald, with generous funding from The Rank Foundation.
The need for accessible and affordable support that addresses both attainment and wellbeing is more important than ever, especially over the school holidays when learning loss threatens to further entrench the attainment gap. Research shows that over the summer, on average, pupils’ achievement scores fall by one month’s worth of learning – with increased loss for pupils from low-income families who struggle to afford educational materials and activities.
While some have called for shortening the summer break, the Education Endowment Foundation reports that summer schools using small-group, targeted tutorials are an effective way to reduce learning loss, especially when coupled with other enriching activities, which encourage the development of key soft skills that improve pupils’ overall wellbeing and resilience.
The STEAM Ahead programme set out to:
🔡🔢 Improve literacy and numeracy skills through STEM-themed activities, underpinned by arts learning, for pupils in Years 5, 6, and 7
💪 Strengthen confidence, resilience, and independence through youth work activities, led by KORI, designed to engage children and boost their wellbeing
🎨 Offer enriching extracurricular activities to encourage creativity and contextualise learning
With a generous grant from the Rank Foundation, our Easter holiday pilot engaged 27 children from low-income backgrounds in peer-led wellbeing workshops, challenge-based Maths and English sessions, a LEGO activity with Mott MacDonald volunteers, and a visit to the Barbican to explore real-world STEM applications.
Pupils reported feeling more confident, more positive about the transition to secondary, and equipped with a deeper appreciation for STEM.
