A Belfast scheme which piloted 25 years ago is looking ahead to what positives they can achieve in the years to come.
Organised by the West Belfast Partnership Board, the local Easter School has saw thousands of children come through their doors, to avail of additional educational support.
The young people, student teachers and local teachers, volunteer their free time over the mid-term break, to focus on their upcoming exams.
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And this Easter, young people were back to face-to-face teaching in St Mary's University on the Falls Road, after a virtual approach during the pandemic.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Angie Mervyn, education manager at the West Belfast Partnership Board said it has been a joy to watch the young people achieve their best potential.
"Our partnership board is one of four across the city and our focus is education, health, economic development and neighbourhood renewal.
"The first Easter School was in 1998 so this year we are celebrating the 25th birthday of the schools. We are really proud of it all but especially the kids who give up their holidays every year to attend for extra support in maths and English GCSE.
"We are delighted that over the 25 years we have had over 4,000 students from across West Belfast here at the Easter School.
"The kids start at 10 o'clock every day and we provide a hot lunch for them as part of the Tackling Holiday Hunger ethos we have and they finish then at around 3pm.
"Over the four days, there are 20 hours of tuition delivered by qualified teachers who work in local schools but are also supported by the teaching students from St Mary's University College.
"The Easter School is really aimed at young people who are about five percentage points into the C grade so it is to maintain that C grade and if they are at a D grade or below, it is to bring them up to a C.
"Whenever I think of the 25 years of the Easter School here, we are really proud of what we have done and just so proud of the kids that come to it. They are a fantastic bunch, just a fantastic community here in West Belfast."
Teenagers Pól Óg and Christine told Belfast Live that they chose to attend the Easter School this year to improve their maths GCSE grades.
Unsure how they would feel giving up four days out of their Easter holidays, after just one day in the classroom at St Mary's, they both said they're already seeing improvements in their work.
"The environment is great," Pól Óg said.
"You wear your own clothes and it is a lot more relaxed, compared to when you are in school. I think that atmosphere has helped me to learn more, because of the different approach."
Christine, 16, admitted that she has been struggling when it comes to her maths GCSE revision but by attended the Easter School, she feels more confident with the subject.
She added: "It is a smaller group of people and it is a shorter period of time but the one subject. That has helped me massively.
"I didn't like the idea of giving up my free days to study, but not I really am glad I decided to come and would recommend anyone who is thinking about it, to try it."
In 1999, Danielle McKinney attended the West Belfast Partnership's Easter School to improve on her maths.
Fast forward 24 years, Danielle's son Odhran is currently in the 2022 intake of students.
"I found it so beneficial to me for my maths GCSE. I made from different schools from the road and it was just so informal.
"The class sizes were small and you got any help available and you felt comfortable to ask questions you wouldn't necessarily ask if you were in your normal classroom in school.
"For me, the pros were unbelievable and helped me through my GCSEs at the time. The application forms for this year were sent out in school but my son, not wanting to attend, didn't bring his home to me.
"I knew how helpful it would be for him so I contacted Angie Mervyn and was able to get the application form and he spent his Easter break here.
"He has really enjoyed it, to his surprise. He is doing fantastic and I have great trust in the team behind the Easter School."
The Easter School is a partnership between WBPB, St Mary’s, Department of Education and Full Service Community Network.
Video feature by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
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