The Lars Windhorst Foundation, established by the German entrepreneur to provide support and educational opportunities to young people announced a collaboration with The Access Project to deliver an intensive maths summer catch-up programme to pupils whose learning has been interrupted by Covid-19.

Following widespread concerns that school closures have disproportionally affected pupils who are economically disadvantaged, the Foundation has acted promptly and decisively to support these pupils and prevent reversing years of educational progress. Estimates suggest that the academic attainment gap between pupils from different backgrounds could widen by a median figure of 36%.

Working with The Access Project, a charity which supports disadvantaged pupils to get into top universities, funding from the Lars Windhorst Foundation (LWF) is directly supporting maths tutoring to students from 26 schools across the UK. The Access Project was chosen because of its strong track record as students they work with are four times more likely to attend a top university as similarly disadvantaged peers. 

The programme is running through the summer, providing an opportunity for students to compensate for missed lessons before the start of the new term.
 
Through online sessions with highly-experienced maths tutors, the Foundation believes it can help young people and their families navigate the complexities of education through this difficult period.
 
The Foundation recently announced that it is working with a number of state schools across London to provide support during COVID-19, including the Future Zone Collaboration (a network of 21 primary schools in Islington), as well as the King Solomon Academy and Hanover Primary School.
 
Lars Windhorst, Founder of the Foundation, said: “Through these extremely challenging times, the Foundation continues to make strides in helping support the community and, in particular, economically disadvantaged pupils. With the devastating effects the virus has had on the economy and society as a whole, it’s now more important than ever before that we maintain a sense of community and rally around those who are most in need. Directly funding maths tutoring for 26 schools across the country is another small success for LWF, as we continue to look at ways of supporting the most vulnerable pupils in our society.”
 
Full information on Foundation's COVID-19 response can be found at: http://larswindhorstfoundation.com/

A full list of participating schools, by region:

London

Ark Globe Academy – Waterloo
Central Foundation Boys School – Hackney/Finsbury
Central Foundation Girls’ School – Hackney/Finsbury
Chelsea Academy – Chelsea
Haggerston school – Hackney
Highbury Grove school – Highbury/Islington
Hornsey School For Girls – Haringey/Crouch End
Kensington Aldridge Academy – Kensington
King Solomon Academy – Camden
Lilian Baylis Technology School – Kennington
Lister Community School – Plaistow/Upton Park
Norwood School – Crystal Palace
Oasis Academy – Enfield
St George’s RC secondary school – Maida Vale/Paddington
St Thomas More Catholic School – Wood Green
The City Academy – Hackney
The Urswick School - Hackney
Woolwich Polytechnic School – Thamesmead, Woolwhich

Birmingham

Colmers school and sixth form college
Holte Secondary School
Moseley School and Sixth Form
Ormiston Forge Academy – Cradley Heath
Waverley school

Nottingham

Ashfield School
Shirebrook Academy - Mansfield

Manchester

George Green’s Secondary School