How We Progress

Progress at our school is not simply about achieving Academic success.  Our Curriculum model is designed to support pupil progress in the following areas:

  • Improving attendance
  • Reducing stress and anxiety
  • Reducing behavioural incidents
  • Increasing personal, social and leadership skills
  • Increasing potential and aspiration

We firmly believe that, if we can address these issues from pupil point of entry, Academic progress and transition to positive, appropriate and sustainable destinations post 16 are achievable – and we have a record of proving it.

All pupils enter at ‘Step 2’ of our Curriculum model (below) and, depending on circumstance, immediately find a place on one of the higher ‘steps’.  Most pupils soon demonstrate ‘Step 4 or 5’ abilities but others take a period of time to get there.  Progress made by pupils entering at the lower ‘steps’ is judged more on the areas outlined above as priorities over Academic performance.

Curriculum Development Model (CDM) illustrating the rationale behind ‘The CPA Way’:

Step 8 Leadership Pupil is steering own path through school and displays dedication to personal development by setting a positive example in all areas of school life – this may include mentoring and supporting pupils in completing their own journeys.  Pupil contributes widely and in valuable ways to the ‘whole school’
Step 7 Aspiration Pupil is accessing careers information and is motivated to improve all areas of performance in school in order to achieve a desired ‘positive destination’, pupil is completing additional qualifications in order to strengthen Post 16 applications
Step 6 Empowerment Pupil performance indicators show reduced stress/anxiety, fewer behaviour incidents, increased RAISE points and more significant academic progress
Step 5 Access Pupil attends regularly and is accessing lessons/interventions and is making progress personally, socially and academically
Step 4 Inclusion Pupil established as part of school community – staff, peers, friends,  mentors and agencies make pupil feel welcome, comfortable and supported – attendance and re-engagement is improving
Step 3 Trust Bespoke support network designed based on pupil data – CPA staff, parents/carers and external support assigned to pupil and partnerships form
Step 2 Contact Pupil meeting occurs, tour and baseline testing complete – induction
Step 1 Referral Pupil information collected

Entry Points

Pupils enter the CPA during termly referral windows.  Pupils referred from other schools only come directly into the CPA at the start of each term.  When not at capacity, the CPA offers respite and short term places outside of these windows with the CITE team – based at Bishop’s Wood in Stourport.  Pupil progress at CITE begins at ‘Step 3’ and is focussed at getting new pupils ‘CPA ready’ – smoothing the transition into school for new pupils whilst providing continuity and stability for existing pupils.

How We Progress at Key Stage 3

Following referral to either our school or CITE in Key Stage 3 our first priority is to successfully integrate pupils and begin to build trust.    Once the pupil has settled, our goal is to either prepare them for reintegration to the CPA or back into mainstream education.  Pupils not looking at reintegration are supported in making progress in their priority areas before entering Key Stage 4 at the CPA.

Key Stage 3 pupils will typically focus on progressing through the first 4 ‘steps’ of our Curriculum Development Model (CDM) – they are seen as being in the ‘dependency’ stage of their academic journeys:

CDM steps 1 – 4: dependency:

  • Step 4: taking part – team building
  • Step 3: regular attendance, assessment, support
  • Step 2: priority social skills (self-esteem, feelings, empathy, values)
  • Step 1: initial contact – selling the idea

This progression is managed through support by Learning Coaches and teaching staff, initially developing trust and identifying individual needs and preparing, in partnership, an Independent Learning Profile.  This is updated regularly and is shared termly with all staff – major changes to pupils circumstances are discussed, and strategies are implemented, as required.

Students are continuously supported by teachers and Learning Coaches (ratio1:4), trained in specific areas of expertise by The ContinU Trust and the CPA.  These specialisms are designed to facilitate and support the learning of individual students via a wide range of motivating practical, vocational and issue based activities.  These activities promote and encourage progression through the Curriculum Development Model.

The social skills that the CPA assists young people to develop are divided into two areas:

1) Priority Social Skills: these are the skills necessary to contribute to & benefit from group work, classroom learning, employment and to be able to benefit from and contribute positively to the activity i.e.:

  • self-esteem – a positive life view, a commitment to control and change their life;
  • recognising and managing feelings – impulse and anger control, defer gratification, develop alternative strategies for addressing conflict;
  • understand and identify with others (empathy) – to recognise the feelings, needs and points of view of other students and teachers, or victims of crime;
  • values development – to identify, understand and explore alternatives to current values, beliefs, behaviour and their consequences, particularly in relation to the school ethos.

2) Other Social Skills: when students are ready, they will move onto prioritise the other important social skills that will support the pupil in progressing to and through the latter stages if the CDM. These are developed with the encouragement of all staff i.e.:

  • communication skills – including listening and assertiveness, non-verbal, literacy;
  • interpersonal and relationship skills, friendships and support networks;
  • problem solving, including decision making, particularly in terms of interpersonal issues, the ability to set attainable goals, linked to self-control and delaying gratification;
  • negotiation, how to reach compromise;
  • planning, thinking ahead;
  • reviewing skills, learning from experience.

This supports students in finding and taking up a wide range of positive outcomes.  At all stages in the delivery of the CPA curriculum we will work with students on potential destinations.  This includes:

  • Regular liaison with the referring school to look at opportunities for the student to return to mainstream education;
  • Regular discussions with parents to look at trajectory of progress and to better judge what is best for the pupil whilst continuing their Academic journey;
  • Options support and advice ready for transition to Key Stage 4.

Provision Overview:

Key Stage 3 provision is focused on the successful reintegration of students into their home-schools.  Admissions are made at the start of each term and students are given a set curriculum to follow according to their needs.  Admissions are made at the start of each term and new students are placed in option groups according to their needs, interests and subject capacity.  Pupils are placed in vertical tutor groups according to their needs where they are often mentored by older pupils as well as staff.

There is a substantial time commitment to ‘Learning outside the Classroom’ (LOTC), with a day a week timetabled for students to take part in Outdoor Education sessions aimed at building resilience, teamwork and communication skills amongst others.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Offer

Core EBacc Others
English History/Geography Outdoor Education
Maths Art Citizenship
Science PE Enrichment
Reading Drama  
Food Technology  
Design Technology  

Overview of Example Key Stage 3 Timetable:

  Tutor 1

 

9:10-10-20

Break 2

 

10:35-11:45

Lunch 3

 

12:15-13:25

Break 4

 

13:35-14:45

Tutor
KS3 1 Maths      

65

Citizenship

 69

PE

Gym

Reading

Library

KS3 2 Outdoor Ed

 

Outdoor Ed Outdoor Ed Outdoor Ed
9.1 Art

68

Science

25

Humanities

71

English

34

All Key Stage 3 pupils may benefit from:

Academic Strategies to ensure that high ability pupils achieve qualifications in line with expectations from 1) CPA baseline and 2) Key Stage 2 baseline in selected options subjects ready for the start of Key Stage 4:

  • Bespoke learning journeys including Curriculum subjects, interventions, support packages and part-time timetables;
  • Early entry examinations at Entry Level and Level 1 if appropriate;
  • The opportunity to experience ‘Learning outside the classroom’ with one day per week of Outdoor Edcuation;
  • Extra provision after school mentoring/tutoring and enrichment;
  • Annual residential trips (domestic)
  • Consideration of reintegration and cooperation with home schools and parents

Intervention Strategies to ensure success for our more vulnerable students:

  • All students will have an individual learner profile;
  • All students will join the CPA with a completed Progress Passport;
  • 1 to 1 support will be available for a variety of academic and therapeutic support;
  • Reduced timetable and consolidation of subjects.  For example some students will be withdrawn from subjects that they were seriously underperforming in and more time allocated to those that would be beneficial.  This is always done in consultation with student and parents/carers;
  • Students are withdrawn from lessons for additional literacy and numeracy work with the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) team;
  • School nurse support;
  • Drugs counselling;
  • E-safety;
  • Educational psychologist (SDQ scores used to determine suitability and need)

Outcomes for Pupils at Key Stage 3

  • Year 8 pupils in October 2018 had attended 96.2% of the time.
  • Year 8 pupils had collected 88.7% of their positive behaviour (RAISE) points during this same period –
  • Year 8 pupils demonstrated higher levels of stress and anxiety at this time (16.7) than any other year group all of which were less stressed by between 2 and 4 points (see SDQ data for more information) – demonstrating the ability of the CPA to reduce these the stresses of our pupils
  • Year 8 pupils were making expected Academic progress in 63% of their subjects – a figure that rises to nearly 75% for Year 11 pupils
  • Year 8 and Year 9 pupils were responsible for the biggest Academic progress gains at this point and had closed their ‘disengagement gaps’ (the difference between where they should be (Key Stage 2 data and where they were on CPA entry) by as much as 23%

These figures demonstrate that the longer pupils spend at the CPA the more progress they make in all of the areas that result in success beyond the age of 16 – many pupils, and their parents, would suggest that they never thought this was possible when they first arrived at our school.

Since 2014 every CPA pupil that has left at the end of Year 11 has achieved a firm offer of a place in further education, employment or training.  The groundwork for this progression is often laid down in Key Stage 3 allowing the pupils to flourish in Key Stages 4 and 5.