The largest of the first of four EEF grants (£760,000) has been awarded to a Durham University-led project supporting teachers to use older pupils aged 10 and 11 to tutor younger pupils aged 8-9 in Maths.
Durham is to spearhead the new pilot project for teaching mathematics in 80 schools, including the training of teachers and the production of materials. Recent research led by Durham University's School of Education showed that peer tutoring can be a highly effective way to boost the attainment of students.
US style summer camps, booster tuition sessions, and a new approach to teaching maths are the also part of the first four projects to receive grants from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).
The grants, totalling £1.6 million, are the first to be allocated by the EEF, which will invest over £200m over the next 15 years on innovative schemes to boost the attainment of disadvantaged children in some of the country's most challenging schools.
Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the EEF, said: "We are delighted to be announcing these first grants which are an important statement of intent for the EEF and a sign that we are up and running and ready for business. The range of projects demonstrates the ways in which we will work: supporting a university-led project, helping a new charity to start up, supporting a new initiative from an established player in the sector, as well as funding an innovative programme from overseas.
"All our grants are for projects that will be rigorously evaluated and can be significantly scaled up if they are found to be cost effective in raising the achievement of disadvantaged pupils."
The EEF will be making further grants as part of its first full round of applications later in the year. The second grants round closes on the 27 January 2012, with a round every term thereafter.
Notes for Editors: £125m was awarded by the Government earlier this year to the Sutton Trust as the lead charity in partnership with the Impetus Trust to establish a major new programme to improve the performance of poor pupils in the country's most challenging schools. With fundraising and investment income, the EEF will spend upwards of £200m over fifteen years.