ERMYSTED'S Grammar School in Skipton has joined forces with an online learning platform in an effort to help more disadvantaged children get into the school.

The selective, all-boys school, has partnered with Atom Learning, an online platform aimed at primary school children and their teachers as part of its aim to 'narrow the educational divide and increase social mobility'.

The programme is designed to help children become familiar with the type of questions they will see on 11-plus exams.

Atom will offer a free subscription - normally £576 per year - to all children aged seven to 11 years old who are eligible for the Pupil Premium. It means parents of any child who has been eligible for free school meals in the last six years can apply.

Pupils who qualify will receive free access to Atom Home, an adaptive learning platform designed to master the Key Stage two national curriculum and help prepare children for the selection exam, which all pupils hoping to go to Ermysted's have to sit and pass.

The initiative is designed to benefit all children, both boys and girls, whatever their current attainment level and regardless of whether they are planning to apply to a grammar school or not.

Headteacher Michael Evans said: "Ermysted’s is proud to be open to pupils from all backgrounds and the goal of this partnership is to help narrow the educational divide for disadvantaged pupils and increase social mobility.”

Flo Simpson, Chief Operating officer at Atom Learning added: “At Atom, our mission is to make exceptional education accessible to all and we are truly excited to partner with Ermysted’s Grammar School.

"This partnership will bring our learning content and technology to even more families. We firmly believe that our platform empowers children to not only excel in their exams, but also to build lasting confidence and pave their path to success throughout Key Stage three and beyond.”

Atom Learning was set up in 2017 by two friends who were frustrated by the inaccessibility of private tuition for most families, and the inconsistency of the teaching quality.

In 2020, it offered free live lessons to help children around the world carry on their education during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the same year was ranked one of the UK's top 50 start-ups by Startups 100.

To access the free resource, parents should visit the Ermysted’s website (www.ermysteds.uk) and click on the Test familiarisation link in the Admissions tab to register an interest.