Hundreds of north-east Essex pupils are to have after-school and Easter holiday lessons to boost their SAT results.

The Government is funding the scheme to help certain children catch up.

Other schools will use the cash to hire extra teachers to concentrate on pupils aged 10 and 11 who need help before their Key Stage 4 standard assessment tests.

The "booster money" is offered to schools to assist year six pupils unlikely to reach the Government's expected standard.

Yvonne Tatam, head at Great Bentley Primary School, said 13 children would be going in during the Easter holidays. They would also have after-school classes for 13 weeks.

She said schools nationwide were offered the "booster money". She said the classes had been held before and did make a difference.

Hazelmere Junior School in Greenstead, Colchester, will use its £3,000 to allow two teachers together to take English and maths classes in normal school hours. The second teacher will give extra attention to a small group of children within the lessons.

Angie Heath, deputy head at Burrsville Junior School, Great Clacton, said year six children could come to lessons four times in the second week of their Easter break.

Dave Kennedy, headteacher of St John's Green School, Colchester, said the school would employ an extra teacher to help during the school day. He said this had proved beneficial last year.

Mike Barnett, education spokesman for Essex County Council, said: "Schools in Essex are committed to improvement and raising pupils' achievements from year to year. Teachers and pupils are probably working harder than they ever have worked before."

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