CLASSROOMS at Bury Grammar School could be thrown open over the summer holidays - to help students across the board 'catch up' on lost schooling caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Year 10 and Year 12 pupils, who have exams coming up, will be offered the opportunity to take part in 'curriculum days' at the establishment after the end of term.

Several private schools are understood to be running similar offers, according to the Independent Schools Council, which has written to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to offer support for 'catch-up' courses for a wider catchment.

Jo Anderson, principal and headmistress at Bury Grammar, is hoping to run curriculum-based days for the first time over the summer for Year 10 and Year 12 students who have exams next year. The school also wants to support pupils from state schools with catch-up work if the guidance allows it.

She said: "We're aware that potentially here we have a generation of young people, not just here in our school but nationally, that have missed out and that's heartbreaking.

"So, if it were possible - but that's a big if, of course - we would absolutely love to support pupils in other schools.

"I know there's been talk about supporting pupils from a welfare perspective and a mental health perspective and that's something I think that Bury Grammar School is also really very good at.

"There is very much a will in this school to support not only our own pupils, but any other young people whose parent schools feel it would be of a benefit to them to come and spend some time here."

For Bury Grammar School, additional funding is not the issue, but Ms Robinson said many fee-paying schools do not have the resources to run courses themselves and to manage all the costs.

In their letter to Mr Williamson the ISC chief executive Julie Robinson added: "If a national scheme can be organised and catch-up courses can be delivered regionally, independent schools will willingly support extra tuition provision in whatever practical ways they can: providing classrooms, catering and other staffing as far as they are able."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier this week that a "catch-up plan" will be laid out for children who have missed long periods of schooling.

He said: "That's absolutely crucial that we do that, we'll have a big catch-up plan that (Education Secretary Gavin Williamson) is going to be announcing very shortly. It's vital that kids catch up on the education that they have lost."