Pupils at Ikamvalethu Secondary School in Langa, Cape Town, are stepping up their studies ahead of this week's exams by sleeping over at school.Twenty of the school's 120 matric pupils moved in yesterday to studyfrom 3pm to 5pm, and from 6pm to 9pm.Forty pupils started sleeping over on Sunday - the first day they were allowed to do so.Principal Naledzani Masutha and his teachers remained with them until 11pm .The project started in June last year after pupils asked to sleep over so they could study for the exams in a conducive environment."Some live next to noisy neighbours and others near shebeens. Or they have a small space in a shack [they share with] their parents and siblings. When they go home, they can't study," Masutha said.The pupils sleep in the staff room and classrooms. Some have brought mattresses.Other pupils share 28 mattresses bought with funds donated by a local church. "They squeeze them together and just sleep, so it's two to one," said Masutha.Last year, 90 of the 143 pupils who sat for the 2015 exams had slept over at school.They achieved a 60% pass, up from 35.7% the year before.Now, they are aiming for 70%. "This doesn't come easy. They'll need to sacrifice," said Masutha.Former pupil Abongile Gomsana praised the project."The time they're going to spend there is going to be good for them," he said.The project is getting support from parents, the community and Western Cape education department. But the school still needs help with meals for pupils...