Children's Express in Belfast joined forces with the New Opportunities Fund to investigate how National Lottery money was being used to boost learning across Northern Ireland. Their findings were published in a special magazine, "Step by Step".
Trainers screeching on the netball court, whistles blowing, footballs bouncing, Country and Western songs blasting across the stage, as an energetic woman calls out the dance moves to smiling young girls who turn, tap and kick to the music.
You could be forgiven if you thought these activities were taking place in the local leisure centre; and you would probably never guess that the happy cacophony was booming from the heart of Saturday School at St Mary's College in Creggan, Derry.
"The idea for Saturday school came from the pupils. They wanted us to provide extra time for different subjects that they could not spend enough time on in school," St Mary's College Principal Geraldine Keegan said.
Pupils use a wooden suggestion box, which stands in the front hall to put proposals in on ways to improve school life. "They even decided on the curriculum they wanted on Saturday and the times they wanted to start. We said a 9.00am start and they said 10.00am, so Saturday school starts at 10:00am," she added.
The project caters for 150 young people from primary to secondary school age. Funded for three years, St Mary's received £37,000 from the New Opportunities Fund to develop Saturday school. It runs a morning and an afternoon session every Saturday employing community workers, volunteers and teachers.
Pupils from St John's Primary school and St Mary's attend Saturday school, although teacher Anne Kelly said "now that word has got out, young people from other schools want to come too." The place is packed with swarms of enthusiastic young people.
Who makes you come? Christina (12) and her friend Emma (14) are asked. "We're not forced, we just come because we want to and we enjoy it. It is far better than youth clubs because we get a range of activities to do," Christina said before she and Emma rush back to the line-dancing session. On the school's ground floor it sounds as if there is a hip and happening party going on, while upstairs an atmosphere of more gentle creativity abounds.
Guitar in hand, a small group of children wrestle with chords under the patient guidance of a Saturday school tutor while others have a go at melody making on electronic keyboards. A short way down the corridor, a young boy decides to brush up on his French. Two art rooms are a hive of activity. Young artists chat avidly while they design, print, cut, paste and paint.
In another classroom close by, students have their heads buried in books. They are studying to improve GCSE grades. Charlene, who is in fifth year and studying for GCSEs comes to school on Saturday for peace and quiet. "I come here to catch up on all my coursework. It's really beneficial because you're not rushing it, you are thinking more about it and understanding it better."
Another attraction according to Charlene, is "the teachers talk to you better and treat you with more respect."
"Teachers here don't boss you about and that is good for us," said Kieran (10), who comes to St Mary's for the "football, computers and football."
Kevin O'Donnell, an Art and Design Ceramic teacher with another local school comes to St Mary's to teach 3- dimensional craft. He fully supports Saturday school. "Pupils' skills have tremendously improved.
They also get to know one another in a very relaxed atmosphere which is conducive to creativity; and the New Opportunities Fund provides resources that are not normally available to most schools."
At Saturday school it seems you can do almost anything; line-dancing, Irish dancing, netball, football, computing, maths, music, geography, cookery, technical drawing, drama, French, choir, spelling. "We can make education and learning fun. Saturday school is good for pupils' physical being and also very good for their mental being. We just hope we have another miracle so we can keep it going for another three years," Anne Kelly said.
Eds Note: Sheena (13): Before, I thought people were mad going to Saturday School. Did they not have enough going five days a week? But once I went there, I realised why they went. It is so much fun, it keeps you off the streets, out of the rain and you get to make new friends and communicate with other people.
About the team
This article was produced by Stephanie McCann 14, Conor Magowan Green 10 and Sheena Hall 13. It was published in Step by Step, a joint publication with the New Opportunities Fund in Northern Ireland.
