What is it?

Summer schools are lessons or classes during the summer holidays, often run as catch-up or enrichment lessons. Some summer ‘schools’ do not have an academic focus and concentrate on sports or other non-academic activities. Others may be targeted at either low or high performing students for under-achieving or gifted and talented students.

How effective is it?

The effects are reasonably consistent (with an average impact of about three months progress), though usually higher for higher attaining pupils and less effective for low income pupils. Programmes are usually more effective in mathematics, when they are specifically tailored to students’ needs, and when parents are involved, such as by attending conferences with teachers, observing their children in class and reading with them at home. Summer schools which do not have a clear academic component are not usually evaluated for, or associated with, learning gains. Other variables seem to make less difference, such as whether the teacher is one of the student’s usual teachers.

The impacts vary according to the focus of the summer school, with more academic benefits linked to those with teaching or tutoring. Benefits have been identified in a range of subjects, particularly for secondary school pupils but are not consistent across all programmes. This indicates that it is important to have a clear focus on learning.

How secure is the evidence?

There are a number of meta-analyses, finding broadly similar effects, though mostly based on studies in the USA. As mentioned, a crucial factor is whether the summer school has an academic focus.

What are the costs?

The costs involved are the employment of teachers for the duration of the summer school, with associated venue and resource costs (books, photocopying etc.). Courses are in the region of £250 per week per student. A two week summer school would cost about £500 per pupil and are therefore estimated as moderate.