Case studies

Using the booster fund to organise a revision day

Heathfield Community College is a mixed rural comprehensive school based in East Sussex. There are currently 1,350 on roll, and 240 pupils in Year 9. In the 2002 Key Stage 3 science tests 84% of pupils achieved level 5 and above; 53% achieved level 6 and above; and 14% achieved level 7.

How the Booster programme fits in with our agenda and priorities

The English and science departments each secured a Key Stage 3 revision day for the whole year group in April 2002, two weeks before the Key Stage 3 tests. The mathematics department organised regular twilight revision sessions for invited target groups.

The school’s main priority for the use of booster funds was to improve English results, so the science and mathematics departments each received about £700 from the pot of £3000. This funding, the time we were given, and the Booster materials formed the foundation of the science department’s revision day.