Mayor of London Boris Johnson. File picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Mayor’s plan to ‘unlock’ pupil potential

Sebastian Mann
Monday, January 28, 2013
7:15 PM

Forty schools across the capital are to benefit from a £1.6million scheme to improve behaviour, discipline and educational achievement.

Mayor Boris Johnson’s so-called “Leadership Clubs” project aims to tackle the causes of under-achievement for more than 1,000 young Londoners, aged between 10 and 14, including through “boot camp” regimes and Saturday school.

Mr Johnson said: “There is nothing worse than seeing pupils full of potential slowly drifting into apathy.

“There are many reasons for low achievement and poor motivation, but our Leadership Clubs aim to boost morale and unlock the ability in each student.”

He added: “I hope this will be a strong catalyst to boost the academic attainment of 1,000 young pupils who need our extra support.”

Deputy Mayor of Education and Culture, Munira Mirza, said: “Instead of writing off so many young people and making excuses for their problems in and out of school, this scheme is about seeing their potential and motivating them to realise it. All the organisations we’re working with have a strong track record and hold high aspirations for their children.

The clubs will be run by four different organisations, each using their own proven approaches within schools across London boroughs