Quality of teaching for all
Employing additional English teachers
Two extra English teachers were employed to facilitate increased curriculum time for English and extra classes. Some teachers also worked with students in morning intervention from 8:30 until 9am.
English 4+ PP performance has improved to 65.0% in 2019 from 58.8% in 2018. The 5+ performance also improved to 41.7% from 33.8% in 2018. English disadvantaged P8 is currently -0.551, compared to the 2019 P8 figure of -0.888.
This strategy has proven successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £54,518
Employing additional Maths teachers
Two extra maths teachers were employed to facilitate additional teaching groups and additional curriculum time for maths. Underperforming Pupil Premium students in year 11 attended morning sessions from 8:30 until 9am.
Maths 4+ PP performance has improved to 65.0% in 2019 from 60.3% in 2018. The 5+ performance also improved to 43.3% from 33.8% in 2018. Morning intervention added +0.71 of an overall grade for disadvantaged students from the December mock result to the summer exam.
This strategy has proven successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £54,518
Subject coordinators
These staff coordinated activities and tracked students across both the Maths and English departments. Disadvantaged students also received additional support from these staff. In Maths, 4+ PP performance improved to 63.3% in 2019 from 60.3% in 2018. The 5+ performance improved to 43.3% from 33.8% in 2018.
In English, 4+ PP performance improved to 65.0% in 2019 from 58.8% in 2018. The 5+ performance improved to 41.7% from 33.8% in 2018.
This strategy has proven successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Fortnightly meetings will be held between the PP co-ordinator, head of year, subject co-ordinators, and mentors.
Cost: £10,668
Staff training
To develop the knowledge and abilities of staff and governors working with disadvantaged students. Both staff and governors had an improved knowledge of strategies utilised by other schools trying to close the attainment gap.
This strategy has proven successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £509.00
Targeted support
Private tutoring
Improve basics attainment for year 11 students. 100% of students who received English tuition achieved a grade 4 or above.
75% of students who received Maths tuition achieved a grade 4 or above. Two students who did not achieve a 4 or above improved from a 1 to a 3 and 2 to a 3.
More year 11 students will have private tutoring in 2019-20.
Cost: £9801.00
Mentors
Pupil Premium students received mentoring support. Mentors also worked on PP attendance alongside the attendance manager.
The mentored students’ attendance ranged from 94.5% (half term 1) to 93.2% (half term 4). The average attendance for the cohort was 94.0%. This represents a 2% improvement on the previous cohort’s attendance.
59.3% of the mentored cohort achieved basics 9/4. 66.7% achieved a 9/4 in English and 74.1% achieved a 9/4 in maths.
Overall, P8 for the mentored students is currently -0.072 and compares favourably to the overall disadvantaged P8 figure of -0.479. The English P8 figure was -0.378 for mentored students compared to -0.551 for non-mentored disadvantaged students. Maths P8 was 0.619 compared to -0.174 for non-mentored disadvantaged students. Students in year 10 and 11 will continue to receive this support into 2019-20.
The mentoring cohort will remain flexible as some students do not respond well to the high levels of support offered by this program.
Cost: £49,960
Book provision
Pupils across all year groups receive additional books and revision guides, in order to improve literacy levels and grade performance at KS4. Literacy levels across the school are improving and grades in English, Maths and Science (where most of the provision goes) improved year on year.
2019 SPI:
English = -0.45
Maths = – 0.16
Combined Science = -0.31
2018 SPI:
English = -0.69
Maths = – 0.29
Combined Science = -0.54
Books will continued to be bought for students due to improved grade performance and literacy levels.
Cost: £9652.25
Outdoor Education and revision programs
Key students attended two Maths and English revision weekends, during which they also participated in ‘high challenge’ outdoor activities.
Of the students who attended the Allendale revision program, 61.9% achieved a 4 in Maths; this figure was the same for English. The basics 9-4 figure was 47.6% and 33.3% achieved basics 9-5.
Of the students who attended the Ford Castle revision program, 65.0% achieved a 4 in Maths; this figure was the same for English. The basics 9-4 figure was 55.0% and 35.0% achieved basics 9-5.
The strategy has proven success and so these revision weekends will continue into 2019-20.
Cost: £11,330.00
Literacy intervention
To improve the reading age of targeted students. 20 students were involved in the 6 week Lexonik reading program. 66.7% of the students who took part saw an increase in their reading age as a result. There was also an average improvement of 17.9 months in students’ reading age.
The results are excellent, however, the baseline post-test questions appear very similar to the words, sentences and phrases that were studied over the 6 week course.
Cost: £3510.00
Shakespeare’s Globe (English intervention)
To improve engagement in the plays of William Shakespeare. Improvement in the Literature grades. This has been paid for out of the 2018/19 budget. However, it will be carried out over the 2019-20 academic year.
Cost: £650.00
Northern Stage – Christmas Carol Production
To improve engagement in A Christmas Carol by Dickens English literature grades for disadvantaged students improved from
-0.95 in 2018 to -0.71 in 2019. This strategy has proven successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £273.00
Art trip
To improve attainment in Art The students enjoyed the trip but it had no positive impact on measured attainment (Art performance decreased from -0.92 in 2018 to -1.20 in 2019). It is important to give disadvantaged students the opportunity to go on life enhancing trips.
Although grade performance for disadvantaged students decreased, we will continue to fund trips of this nature.
Cost: £450.00
Big Bang Fair
To improve engagement in year 9 Science. Student engagement did improve for the majority of the students that went on the trip. Student voice This strategy has proven successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £120.00
Geography field trip
To improve attainment in Geography Geography performance improved from -0.92 in 2018 to -0.12 in 2019. This strategy proved successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £488.14
Reading tests
To improve the reading age of targeted students. Over the course of the programme 20 students had an average reading age improvement of +18.2 months. This strategy proved successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £680.00
Future Me: undergraduate mentoring
To support understanding of higher education and to develop important attributes for success in and beyond school. Pupils did not fully meet the success criteria set by the school. Most, but not all of the students benefited from this programme, and so a more careful pupil selection policy will be required in future.
This strategy proved unsuccessful and will be re-evaluated in 2019.
Cost: NECOP funded project
Peers academy – Undergraduate mentoring
To improve attainment in Maths English and Science English, Maths and Science improved year on year.
2019 SPI:
English = -0.45
Maths = – 0.16
Combined Science = -0.31
2018 SPI:
English = -0.69
Maths = – 0.29
Combined Science = -0.54
The strategy has proven successful, however, this strategy is being phased out by the provider.
Cost: NECOP funded project
Brilliant club
The aim is to increase the number of pupils from under-represented backgrounds progressing to highly-selective universities.
Of the 11 students who attended the launch trip 90% attended all tutorials and 92% submitted a final assignment. When questioned, 100% of students stated that they benefited from the experience. 90% of students said that they would be more likely to apply to university after this experience. This strategy proved successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: NECOP funded project
NECOP associated travel expenses
To allow disadvantaged students to access off-site NECOP initiatives. All students were given free access to travel and greatly benefited from all NECOP associated events (see above). This strategy proved successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £180.00
Other Approaches
ICT / Mobile devices
Pupil Premium students in year 7 received Google Chromebook devices that enabled them to access the curriculum more easily and gave equality of access to ICT provision. Pupil Premium students in higher year groups were also provided with Chromebooks if they missed the initial roll out in year 7.
Pupils did have better access to ICT provision. Tutors need to perform a weekly check of devices in order to ensure pupils have keep them in good working order.
Cost: £20,692.50
Poverty proofing
Children North East will identify and aid us in overcoming the barriers to learning that the PP students face.
Barriers to learning will be identified and teachers will be made aware of them. Teachers will make adjustments, based on the findings that will positively impact disadvantaged learners in the classroom and throughout the school. Results pending: This has been paid for out of the 2018/19 budget. However, it will be carried out over the 2019-20 academic year.
Cost: £3600.00
Rewards
Incentives are provided in order to improve engagement in their studies. Student performance improved and attendance to intervention was recorded at 85% and 92% across morning English and Maths interventions, respectively. This strategy has proven successful and will continue into 2019-20.
Cost: £972.75
Music tuition
Music tuition is provided so that talented young pupils are not denied the opportunity to play an instrument. 21 students eligible for Pupil Premium who played instruments received free music tuition. This strategy will continue into 2019-20.
Cost: £2190.00
Stationery
Stationery is provided to all eligible students in order to make them ‘exam and learning ready’. Students across the school are ready for learning as they have the stationery necessary for learning. This strategy will continue into 2019-20.
Cost: £1463.54
Uniform
To ensure students have the correct uniform. Students who did not have the required uniform were provided with the correct uniform. This strategy will continue into 2019-20.
Cost: £229.61
Revision refreshments
Refreshments are provided for some intervention sessions and parent/student information evenings, to encourage students and parents to attend. Maths sessions where refreshments were provided were attended by 94% of the students that were invited.
25 parents attended 1 after school information evening targeted at specific students. This strategy boosts attendance so will continue into 2019-20.
Cost: £360.50
Revision resources
Students are provided with revision resources in order to improve engagement in their studies. Students are now more engaged in their revision during the time they spend in the mentor office. This is a one off strategy as once bought the resources will be re-used.
Cost: £97.58
Engineering careers trip
To allow disadvantaged students to travel to BHGE. All students were given free access to travel and greatly benefited from participation in the taster day of the early-career development programme that is run by BHGE. This careers based strategy proved successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £180.00
Top up funding
To allow disadvantaged students to access small, single staff lead trips and activities. All students who were eligible had free access to travel and other activities offered by staff. This strategy proved successful and will be continued into 2019-20.
Cost: £157.00
Reprographics and office budget
To photocopy resources for disadvantaged students and resource the mentor office.
Students had all the materials required to become successful learners and the office was fully resourced. Allocating reprographics funding to disadvantaged students will continue into 2019-20. The mentoring office will also need additional resources and this allocation will continue into 2019-20.
Cost: £290.71