Former Academy Governor, Barrister and Sevenoaks Councillor, Anna Firth and primary school teacher, Stephen James, have set up another sell-out programme of catch-up classes this half-term specifically focused on the most disadvantaged children across the UK.
By using leftover donations from the runaway Invicta Summer Academy programme and by volunteering their own professional time, Firth and James have been able to provide completely FREE Maths and English lessons across all key stages with 80%+ going to children in receipt of free school meals or pupil premium.
The lessons which are just £2 a session to all other children are already nearly completely booked with extra classes having to be put on to help Key Stage 3 children, those aged 11 to 14 in secondary school. The Invicta National Academy will run from Monday, 26th until Friday, 30th October 2020 every day.
Laura Trott, MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley said: "The Invicta Academy made a significant difference to so many families across Kent over the summer, and I am delighted that this brilliant and much needed community initiative is returning for half term. Nothing can replace being in the classroom, however we must make sure pupils across Sevenoaks and Swanley are given the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. This programme does exactly that. If you know a child who could benefit, I urge you to get involved".
Invicta National Academy https://www.invictaacademy.com/ is a social enterprise offering daily, live, interactive, Maths and English lessons every day across five key stages taught by a fully-qualified, teacher assisted by a trained facilitator (to handle Q&A). Teachers will be delivering a short burst, high impact provision crafted by Co-Founder and Specialist Leader of Education, Stephen James.
Launched in the summer in response to the widening gap caused by covid-19, the Invicta National Academy provided 50,000 unique learning opportunities to children right across the UK through five separate summer academies, raising £86,000 in donations and employing 127 teaching professionals over a 5-week period.
Praised by the Prime Minister and described as “brilliant work” by the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, in Parliament on 1st September 2020, the Invicta Academy is now repeating their summer programme at half-term to help children catch-up, particularly the most disadvantaged.
In a letter dated 28th August 2020 to the Academy's Founders, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson wrote: “It is a remarkable achievement to have set up the Academies and recruited over 100 teaching professionals … This has enabled children to catch up on their education and ensure that they are fully prepared for their return to school. Congratulations again to everyone who has taken part and made this possible.”
Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Chair Education Select Committee wrote: “Thank you for all your hard work this summer setting up the Invicta Academy. It was inspiring to see you act to support disadvantaged pupils who had been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.”
Giving back to the community and public service is a key value at the Invicta Academy and so this half-term, for the first-time, the Invicta Academy is welcoming thirteen sixth form students from Sevenoaks School who are volunteering to act as an additional facilitators in all lessons to give the children additional individual support with Q&A.
Co-Founder and former Academy Governor, Cllr Anna Firth, will say: “We are passionate about helping children across the UK catch-up and, if anything, we are busier now then we were in the summer with parents and schools are contacting us almost every day. We want to help as many children as possible so I hope that any parents reading this will visit our website and sign-up”
Co-Founder and primary school teacher, Stephen James, will say:- “We have been in the educational trenches fighting COVID-19 since July and we are now preparing for a precision assault on Half-Term! So please do spread the word!
Additional information
Each lesson will be 45 minutes in duration and taught via Zoom.
Lessons will be split into:
- Key Stage 1 (KS1),
- Key Stage 2 lower (KS2L),
- Key Stage 2 upper (KS2U),
- Key Stage 3 (KS3) and
- Key Stage 4 (KS4)
Timetable Monday to Friday (26th October to 30th October)
- 1000 - 1045 Maths KS1, KS2L, KS2U, KS3 & KS4 - Five Separate lessons
- 1100 -1145 English KS1, KS2L, KS2U, KS3 & KS4 - Five separate lessons
For more information contact Stephen James 07545862810 or Anna Firth on 07807857230 or [email protected]
