Inner-city mums have passed a pioneering university course designed to give them the skills to help their children with their homework.

Eighteen women with children at schools in the Manningham and Girlington areas made the grade after studying with the University of Bradford.

The two-year part-time course, called Understanding School, was designed to help participants get to grips with the education system and support their children through their time at school.

Kath Bridger, director of access and widening participation at the university, said: "After consultation with parents at local primary schools we noticed that parents wanted to help their children but did not know how, and were also afraid to approach the school.

"Most of them were not aware of what their children were being taught at school, and did not understand the target system for their child's year. As a result, the University's School of Lifelong Education and Development launched the Understanding School module.

"We are delighted with the amazing progress these students have made."

University tutors led classes at Sure Start in Manningham and at Copthorne, Lilycroft and St Philip's primary schools.

The weekly sessions were scheduled during school time and creche facilities were provided. Mums were taught key education and ethnicity issues, study skills and introduced to computer technology.

Many of the women on the course had no qualifications and had not studied in higher education before. The group enjoyed their studies so much that all 18 have also completed a foundation year on the university's combined studies degree course.

Mum-of-two Shakila Begum, of Heaton, now plans to study for a full degree in community regeneration and development.

She said: "The course has been really good. It has really helped me to understand what my children are being taught and has introduced me to the university.

"I am really looking forward to studying for a full degree."

Mum-of-five Shabeena Bashir, of Girlington, attended seminars at St Philip's primary school. She said: "It has been really enjoyable and will allow us to help our children and to understand what they are going through."

Course leader Peter Lassey said the university had succeeded in two areas. "The course was designed to give parents an understanding of what their children were going through and introduce them to learning at the university. It has achieved in both areas."

Mr Lassey said the course had been such a success that the university had successfully franchised it out to a college in Oman.

  • For more details please contact the School of Lifelong Education and Development on (01274) 233210.