HUNDREDS of Bolton have children have given up the long lazy days of summer to swot up on their English and Maths.

Nearly all Bolton schools are holding booster classes to help pupils catch up before they go to secondary school in September.

But concern is growing that the popularity of summer schools could lead to children being forced to attend extra lessons whether or not they need to or want to.

Teaching unions are alarmed about a Government survey which revealed that three quarters of parents want their child to attend a summer school.

Bolton education chiefs insist the growth of summer schools has helped children who might otherwise have struggled to make the difficult jump from primary to secondary.

Monitoring of 11-year-olds who attended the first four trial summer schools two years ago has convinced them that it gives struggling children a vital boost.

They say the extra lessons have prevented the guinea pig 11-year-olds who had not reached the expected level in their tests from falling back even further over the long summer break.

Some pupils actually came on by leaps and bounds because of the extra tuition and caught up with their classmates.

Supporters say even those children who gain little academically from the exra lesson are better off for spending time in their new school before they officially start in September.

Last year half of all Bolton secondary schools held summer schools and most are opening their classrooms during August for extra lessons on numeracy and literacy.

All but opt-out St James' and Canon Slade have arranged summer schools this year.

But one teacher, who did not want to be named, told the BEN: "I do have my doubts. I'm concerned that summer schools will become the norm and parents will start using us like a babysitting service.

"Children work hard all year round so unless they are really struggling to keep up, it might be better for them to have a break from lessons."