In 2001, the authority adopted a city-wide approach to study support in all schools following successful pilots and evidence that it helped boost achievement.
Sunderland gained lottery funding for study support in schools with higher than average proportions of pupils on free school meals and invested cash from its Standards Fund to ensure all got some money.
It also established a small study support team.
"When the extended schools agenda came into being and we started to develop our strategy, we embedded study support into that," says Barker.
Sunderland's broad definition of study support encompasses activities linked to the curriculum, special interest clubs such as chess clubs, and those that boost confidence and develop transferable skills, such as The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. Study support also includes creative and performing arts and is seen as vital in hitting targets on sport and PE. Sunderland has tied this in with initiatives such as Playing for Success, which involves councils working with sports clubs and the Film Club programme. A key concern has been ensuring children from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds don't miss out.
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