Pupil Premium
Overview of the Academy
Pupil Premium Grant Expenditure
Pupil Premium Grant Expenditure:
Number of pupils and pupil premium grant (PPG) received:
Total number of pupils on roll: 1471
Total number of pupils eligible for PPG: 273
Amount of PPG received per pupil: £943
Total amount of PPG received: £262,292
Outwood Academy Valley has been allocated £262,292, for the academic year 2019/20
Pupil Premium is an additional grant given to students who:
• Pupils in Years 7 – 11 recorded as Ever 6FSM (£943)
• Looked After Children as defined in the Children Act of 1989 (£2,300)
• Children who have ceased to be looked after by a local authority in England and Wales due to adoption, a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order (£2,300)
• Children reception to Year 11 recorded as Ever 6 service child or in receipt of a child pension from the Ministry of Defence (£300)
Outwood Academy Valley has been allocated £262,292 for the academic year 2019/20. We receive this money in quarterly instalments and these funds are in addition to the main school budget (the General Annual Grant).
The current barriers to educational achievement faced by eligible students at Outwood Academy Valley are listed below:
- Low literacy skills
- Low numeracy skills
- Attendance
- Well-being and confidence
These barriers are unique to each student and are addressed through a bespoke programme of interventions and support which are covered in the section below.
The aim at Outwood Academy Valley is to develop many robust intervention strategies, all of which are designed to support each individual student to achieve their full potential. Our aim is to ‘narrow the gap’ between different groups of students and fulfil one of our core aims “to raise standards for all students by sustaining and enhancing performance and to develop the whole child”.
Curriculum Support:
Revision sessions for students who are examined are to be held at regular intervals throughout the year. Sessions are provided within the school day, evenings, weekends and during holiday time.
- All students have access to an online Maths resource used to set homework, review lesson outcomes and guide students through activities.
- Revision guides are provided for students in Maths and English.
- Directors of English, Maths, Science, Humanities, MFL and the Arts have been deployed from the Outwood Trust to support students in making outstanding progress in English, Maths and Science and other subjects.
- External consultants and examiners from the awarding bodies are engaged in English, Maths and Science to support raising student attainment.
- Option and extra English and Maths and Core Science are additions to Core Curriculum for these subject areas.
- Specialist literacy and numeracy support in Key Stage 3 (circa £19,000). This includes the implementation of the Accelerated Reader programme along with curriculum time allocated for pupils in year 7 who have been identified with reading ages significantly below chronological age.
- Level 3 Teaching Assistants in both Literacy and Maths to be used for strategic support and intervention strategies to improve the performance of pupils.
- One to One intervention post holders in Maths and English to improve pupil performance in English and Maths.
- All Year 11 students are provided with a scientific calculator.
- All students have access to Educake science software.
- Enrichment sessions are delivered after school for all GCSE subjects.
- PLC and Bridge provision to provide curriculum pathways for pupils to improve pupil outcomes and performance
Offsite provision is offered to support students who are disengaged with the traditional school environment or who have a particular wish to explore a more vocational route. - Students who qualify for Pupil Premium are also supported with music lessons and contributions towards equipment and trips to enhance their learning experience whilst at the Academy.
- VMG English & Maths; the deployment of specialist staff to support students with small group intervention will take place during VMG time in the Maths and English Departments.
- We have Hegarty Maths, Maths Peer Mentors and Numeracy Ninjas to support students with low level numeracy at KS3.
Uniform and Offsite Visits
Uniform has been provided for all Year 6 students who are awarded a place at Outwood Academy Valley, so that all students have an equal starting point. This will continue in the future and also includes free uniform for all in year admissions.
The Academy offers financial assistance for families and students wishing to attend school trips and excursions, this ensures that all students benefit from a variety of experiences designed to enhance life chances and removes what could be a financial barrier.
Inclusion
Our Inclusion Team are specialists in areas of Safeguarding, SEND, attendance and pastoral support, working tirelessly to support our students maintaining strong links with external agency support services. It is an extremely valuable resource and greatly appreciated by the students.
Bridge
The Bridge is the Academy’s Social Inclusion Centre, co-ordinated by the Bridge Manager. Within the Bridge, support is given to students with more complex social, emotional, behavioural and medical issues. It provides a safe and supportive environment for the Academy’s most vulnerable students.
The Bridge proactive intervention programme offers a varied and wide ranging programme of workshops and courses throughout the year including ABC (Actions Behaviour and Consequences programme), Anger Management, Self-esteem groups, Personal Safety and the STOP programme, a behaviour modification programme designed to support the most difficult to reach and disengaged students and prepare them for life.
PLC
The Personalised Learning Centre is co-ordinated by the PLC Manager and provides students with personalised learning packages designed to meet individual needs, provide focussed intervention to support and raise attainment and to support and promote independent learning. The PLC is home to the One to One Maths Mentors who support students to achieve their full potential and is the hub for EAL students supporting them to immerse themselves in academy life.
We are supported by Kooth, a counselling service who work with our students. They currently provide 24 hours a day 7 days per week access to support students with mental health, anxiety and other issues. Partnerships also include working with the NHS school nurse team, sexual health advisors and local PCSOs.
Additional schemes running throughout the year:
- Behaviour for Learning (B4L) – focuses on getting students back on track and understanding why they are behaving in a way that is a cause for concern.
- Self-esteem Group work – working with students who need to build personal confidence.
- Study support – working with students to create a culture of organization, preparing for their future.
- STOP + ABC – Actions Behaviour and Consequences – A behaviour modification programme designed to support the most difficult to reach and disengaged students and prepare them for life.
- Take 5 Each Amazing Breath.
- Y6 Focussed Transition – for vulnerable, Pupil Premium and SEND students. An additional transition to assist the move into Year 7.
- Worry group
Outcomes for students 2018/19
SEND:
Plans are being implemented to focus on dyslexia support, group and one to one support in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 through the Inclusion Department. Greater enrichment opportunities will also be provided in the field of literacy and numeracy.
Attendance:
The academy maintains a relentless focus on improving attendance for all pupils, particularly for those eligible for pupil premium funding. Rigorous tracking, monitoring and intervention procedures are in place to support all students in meeting the minimum requirement of 95%.
Lexia Reading Programme
Lexia Reading is used by school systems throughout the world to encourage students to improve their reading and literacy. Lexia Reading’s interactive, educational software is helping students learn to read, and increase academic performance. The package will initially be used with Key Stage 3 to support lifelong literacy.
Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader, helps promote reading whole school, improves literacy and encourages reading for pleasure. It works by testing students’ comprehension once they have read a book, giving incentives as they progress. In order for the scheme to be effective students must read for a 20 minute period three times per week.
Peer Mentoring Programme:
Peer mentors are positive role models working closely with year 7 and 8 students, supporting them with a variety of issues. The student mentors are trained by Outwood staff to listen, provide non-judgmental advice and support wherever possible.
VMG Maths and English:
The deployment of specialist staff to support students with small group intervention will take place during VMG time in the Maths and English Departments.
Revision Guides:
Guides will be provided for Y11 students in Maths, English and Science to assist with exam preparation.
Access Arrangements:
Will be applied for following JCQ guidelines. Assessments will be done by qualified Academy staff.
Breakfast Club:
The Breakfast Club will run daily in the Bridge targeting vulnerable groups of students. Fresh breakfast items are provided free of charge daily for all students and include juice, milkshakes, toast and fresh fruit. The aim is to provide students with a positive start to the day, encouraging student and staff interaction as well as providing a healthy breakfast.
Support In Music:
The Academy will provide free music lessons and support with the purchase of musical instruments (if required).
Praising Stars ©:
Praising Stars © is a reporting system updated and published to parents/carers six times every academic year. Praising Stars reports on the effort and academic progress of every student in Year 7 to Year 13, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable students and groups (including those receiving Pupil Premium). Praising Stars is an effective vehicle which provides us with powerful information utilised by staff and departments. Using the 4 I Model students are identified, information is gathered, intervention is put in place and impact measured.
