Vulnerable pupils 'could board'

A state-run girls' school is looking to provide pupils with the chance to become boarders.

Aylwin Girls' School in Southwark, south London, wants to offer temporary accommodation to vulnerable children when it becomes a city academy in 2008.

Head teacher Cathy Loxton hopes to build a housing block capable of taking eight to 10 girls at a time.

England already has 35 state boarding schools, charging for accommodation but Aylwin hopes to offer it for free.

'Looking after pupils'

Mrs Loxton, head since 2001, told BBC News: "This is a school that will always be in challenging circumstances.

"We are very strong on looking after our girls. Often many of them are here until six o'clock at homework clubs or doing after-school activities.

"Boarding is an extension of our pastoral care. We want to help students who get into temporary crises.

"Normally, many would go into foster care, which means moving around. We want to help offer some stability."

A large number of Aylwin's 900 pupils are of African origin.

Some face disruption as parents return to their home countries to deal with emergencies.

Unlike most schools - which are made city academies because they are "failing" - Aylwin, deemed "satisfactory" by Ofsted, asked for this status.

It has found a sponsor in Lord Harris, the carpet millionaire, and the government is funding the remainder of the £15m start-up costs, including a total rebuilding.

Last year, 33% of pupils gained five grades A* to C at GCSE or equivalent qualification, below the average for England of 53.7%.

However, this represents a four-percentage-point increase on 2003.

Mrs Loxton said: "We are improving and want to continue doing so."

The school has applied to the borough council for funding for boarders.

Under current rules, this would have to come from social services rather than its education department.

Labour has said "unruly" or "disadvantaged" pupils could be sent to state boarding schools, if it wins the election.

But the Aylwin scheme is specifically for children having trouble with accommodation or home life, not those who misbehave or are simply poor.

A Southwark Council spokeswoman said the project was at a "very early stage as a potential idea".