£141k grant to aid character development and break barriers for disadvantaged students
ASPIRE - The Guiding Principles of Character - Sandhill View Academy
Sandhill View Academy in Sunderland, is embarking on a transformative five-year project, ASPIRE, thanks to a £141,251 grant from SHINE.
This initiative aims to tackle the deep-rooted challenges of disadvantage by focusing on character development and enriching students’ lives beyond the traditional curriculum.
Sandhill View’s catchment area ranks as the second-most deprived within Sunderland, a city itself recognised as one of the most deprived in the UK.
The academy, like many others serving disadvantaged communities, has witnessed a post-pandemic rise in student absences. Around a third of students are persistently absent from school, and those students whose attendance was below 90% are achieving, on average, up to two grades lower than their peers, impacting their future opportunities.
Historic data also reveals limited participation in enrichment activities, mirroring a wider issue of restricted opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Anthony Blake, Assistant Head at Sandhill Academy, explained: “Obviously, attendance has been a challenge for all schools since COVID, and it was already a growing concern before that. Schools have tried many similar approaches, but there’s no quick fix or guaranteed solution.
“When supporting a child, it’s important to recognise that there are many reasons they might not be attending or enjoying school. The key is to understand and address those different factors in a way that meets their individual needs.”
ASPIRE, guided by the school’s six core values – Ambitious, Sincere, Proud, Inclusive, Resilient and Ethical – seeks to cultivate a love of learning, resilience, ambition, and strong moral character in its students. Each value will be embedded in a variety of ways:
- Ambition – Through educational trips, career guidance, employer visits, and a programme to raise aspirations.
- Sincerity – Encouraged through good behaviour, lessons on personal development, student leadership, and acts of kindness.
- Pride – Fostered through house competitions, sports, STEM (science and technology) challenges, and community improvement projects.
- Inclusion – Promoted through awareness events, mental health support, and anti-bullying initiatives.
- Resilience – Built through clubs, sports, outdoor challenges, and leadership programs like Cadets.
- Ethical Thinking – Developed through lessons, assemblies, and workshops on values and responsibility.
By providing students with experiences they wouldn’t normally have access to, the project aims to nurture a sense of belonging and pride in their school. This, in turn, is expected to improve attendance, reduce behavioural issues, and ultimately raise academic attainment.
It’s about developing the students’ character over their five years with us,” explains Anthony. “By developing these character traits, they’ll develop a sense of belonging. They’ll want to come to school, respect school, their peers, their teachers. They’ll feel like they’re part of something.”
The project’s six-pronged approach will make school a more engaging and enjoyable experience, directly addressing the issue of attendance. Furthermore, research indicates that students who participate in enrichment activities are more likely to pursue higher education and achieve greater social mobility.
It is hoped the project will break down some of the stigma some students may feel about attending university.
The project’s success will be measured through tangible outcomes, including a reduction in absenteeism, persistent absence figures, and suspensions. Improved attainment, reduced NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) figures, and increased social mobility are also key targets.
The development of an app to track students’ progress in meeting character development goals will provide valuable data and evidence for their future CVs.
Crucially, ASPIRE is designed to have a lasting impact beyond the initial five-year period.
In-house training developed by Sandhill View staff will be shared with partner schools, and the character curriculum will be made accessible to other institutions. Additionally, the academy’s facilities, such as the forest school, may be made available for rent to generate revenue for ongoing training and resources.
“It’s not just one school doing something and sharing it in their school internally or in their trust,” emphasises Anthony. “It’s actually a project which we hope will involve other schools in Sunderland.”
Reacting to the news of the SHINE funding, which is part of the £11 million SHINE Sunderland fund. Anthony said: “I think it’s amazing. As school leaders always say, their budgets are tight. Having that additional money come in to support these initiatives is great.
“We might have attempted something similar on our own, but not on this scale. The same goes for other schools – having the chance to explore new approaches is rare.
“This opportunity provides the time and resources to experiment in a way that wouldn’t normally be possible.”
On his long-term hopes for the project, Anthony said: “The goal of this project is ultimately about shaping character, so I hope to see a real shift in mindsets and attitudes.
“It would be fantastic to see more independent thinking among students – encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones, explore new opportunities, and challenge negative perceptions.
“Changing attitudes towards attending university, joining after-school clubs, or staying late for academic activities can broaden horizons and inspire students to try new experiences. If we achieve that, attendance should improve because students will see school as a place of learning and growth rather than just an obligation.
“In the long run, this could have a huge impact on students’ futures, their career prospects, and even the wider local community. Increased social mobility could bring new opportunities to Sunderland and help shape a brighter future for the area.
“It’s an exciting time to try new approaches, especially when funding is tight. Opportunities like this – to experiment, innovate, and make a lasting difference – don’t come around often. Hopefully, we will be successful, which will inspire more schools across Sunderland to try something similar in the future.”
Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE said: “The ASPIRE initiative is a great example of how schools can support young people in developing the skills and resilience they need to succeed.
“By focusing on character development and providing enriching opportunities, this project has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of students at Sandhill View Academy and across Sunderland.”