Rochdale teenager helps develop Instagram home-learning platform

HomePal resources created by sixth formers from three Manchester schools

Rochdale student Shamae Griffin is amongst a group of sixth formers from three Manchester schools who have joined forces to launch HomePal, a new home-learning programme aimed at helping younger pupils enhance and enrich their education during the current school closures.

Easily accessed as a free resource through Instagram, HomePal has been developed by volunteers from Withington Girls’ School, The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) and Manchester High School for Girls, with 18-year-old Shamae, who hopes to study Politics and International Relations at university, amongst the team of nine.

With followers able to access short study sessions in Chinese, Geography, German, English, History, Maths, Mindfulness, Science, or Spanish, content is primarily targeted at school children in Years 7 to 9, but HomePal’s contributors say their lessons are attracting users of all ages keen to learn a new skill or subject during the Covid-19 lockdown period, regardless of where they are based. Feedback so far has been very positive.

HomePal was established just as schools across the country closed due to Covid-19, when the sixth formers decided to work together on a joint educational project. Subjects were chosen according to the HomePal team members’ personal preferences and are composed based on Key Stage 3 curriculum guidance and the students’ own knowledge. Though most of the topics on offer have an academic element, they are intended to be fun and interaction is actively encouraged. Mindfulness was included to help support mental health and wellbeing during the lockdown period.

Shamae writes HomePal’s Spanish lessons and is one of four contributors from Withington Girls’ School. She said: “It’s a great way to expand horizons, particularly for younger children missing their usual school environment. It’s not meant to replace school remote learning but extends their studies and is also an opportunity to try subjects they may not be taking currently, such as Chinese or Mindfulness.

“We’re finding that siblings or parents are pointing them in the direction of HomePal, and then deciding to have a go at some of the subjects themselves too.”

• www.instagram.com/homepal_/