Skip to content

Children in Need: Ipswich homework club takes pupils to 'next level'

Martin Giles/BBC Janna, a pupil from an Ipswich schoolMartin Giles/BBC
Janna said when you are at the club "you are not alone the whole time"

A homework club that has been supported by BBC Children In Need has said it was taking children "to the next level".

BSC Multicultural Services, in Ipswich, has been going for 10 years and also offers online training and sports clubs primary school children.

Mohammed Alam, from the charity, said the free service was open to all children, whatever their ability.

Pupils who attend have said it has helped to push them and it was a "friendly environment".

Martin Giles/BBC Mohammed Alam from BSC Multicultural ServicesMartin Giles/BBC
Mohammed Alam said qualified teachers offer support to children outside of their school hours

The charity has received £50,000 worth of funding over three years from Children In Need, whose annual fundraising day will feature on BBC One from 19:00 GMT.

Mr Alam said what they offered "could not be done without the money from Children In Need".

The homework club runs from Northgate High School, Ipswich, during term-time.

Janna, who attends, said: "It's a really friendly environment, you come in and you do your homework.

"It's a huge community and it's just amazing to do the work with people, instead of just doing it home alone, and you get support from teachers around you."

Martin Giles/BBC Arif a pupil at an Ipswich schoolMartin Giles/BBC
Arif said he really liked to attend the club and it helped give him confidence

For Arif, he likes the revision resources on offer and the face-to-face sessions.

"It's really helpful towards all the tests and exams we have," he said.

"They help us by telling us what other teachers missed out."

Martin Giles/BBC Fahbiyan a studentMartin Giles/BBC
Fahbiyan said he got the help, support and resources he needed from the homework club to improve his GCSEs

Fahbiyan said it encouraged him to do better.

"I feel like I should push on and try my best especially with the help of the teachers, as they try their best to give me the best education I can get," he said.

Martin Giles/BBC Bawen, a pupil at an Ipswich schoolMartin Giles/BBC
Bawen said doing homework at school was "better with friends"

Bawen had been coming to the club for a month and said it was "really good" and "motivating".

"If I get stuck on it, I just ask the teacher," he said.

He said as printers and computers were on hand, you could print anything you needed, which you could not always do at home.

Martin Giles/BBC Rebecca and Latia, pupils from an Ipswich schoolMartin Giles/BBC
Rebecca (left) and Latia said the club offered lots of rewards

One of the many highlights for Latia and Rebecca was the sweet treats.

"When we do our homework, at the end we get some chocolate - you really want chocolate, so you do your homework," Rebecca said.

"Teachers help more than parents," she added.

Latia said she found it was beneficial to work in a "nice quiet place, especially if our home is noisy, it just feels good to be away".

Mr Alam said they filled a gap for children who otherwise "can't have access to tutors."

"It's not about dealing with children who aren't doing well, it's about taking a child and helping them to the next level and that's fantastic to see," he said.

"You'll see children from here go to Cambridge, to Oxford, all the way to London, and all universities; they've excelled."

presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]