New initiative aims to improve attendance and parental engagement during move from primary to secondary
Transition to Success - Castle View Enterprise Academy
SHINE Sunderland has awarded £104,000 to Castle View Enterprise Academy for an ambitious new project tackling school attendance, behaviour and increasing parental engagement at the pivotal transition point between primary and secondary school.
This significant investment is part of SHINE Sunderland’s £11 million programme aimed at raising attainment for children across the city over the next decade.
Transition to Success will place early, personalised support at the heart of secondary school transition.
“We were over the moon, and very proud when we found out,” said Joanne Owens, Principal at Castle View Enterprise Academy. “A lot of work went into the bid, so to have our vision recognised and funded through SHINE Sunderland is incredibly exciting.”
The Transition to Success project will focus on pupils in Years 5 and 6 who may be struggling with attendance to school. Research has consistently shown that lower attendance at primary school is strongly linked to weaker outcomes at GCSE.
At the heart of the project is the creation of a new role: the Transition Engagement Officer (TEO). This dedicated team member will work primarily within five local primary schools to identify and support pupils at risk.
“We have an attendance officer who works day-to-day in the Academy, but this project is purely to focus on transition engagement,” explained Mrs Owens. “This person will be visiting primary schools weekly, analysing patterns of attendance and behaviour, and starting to build relationships with families before students arrive at our doorstep.”
The TEO will use a blend of quantitative data (such as attendance records) and qualitative insights (from parent and student voice) to identify needs and shape individualised support plans, or ‘pupil passports’, that will move with each child into Year 7.
A key component of Transition to Success is its emphasis on parental engagement. From attending primary parents’ evenings to hosting coffee mornings and informal events at the secondary school, the project aims to support and build relationships early.
“It’s about raising the profile of the importance of education,” said Mrs Owens. “We can show them what we offer to support families – like our breakfast club, after-school support and a safe place for their children.”
Castle View Enterprise Academy already uses visual tools to show students the link between attendance and academic success – something they plan to extend to primary parents through this project.
Whilst the project will initially focus on Castle View Enterprise Academy and its feeder primary schools, the school has committed to sharing its learning widely. Mrs Owens has already raised the initiative in city-wide headteacher meetings, and there’s appetite to explore how the model could be replicated across Sunderland.
“If we could lead something across the city, that would be our aim,” she said.
“I just think that we can make a difference,” Mrs Owens added. “We’re a strong school and SHINE has given us the chance to do something we believe will make a real, lasting impact.”
The SHINE Sunderland programme represents a decade-long investment in the city’s future, and projects like this demonstrate the impact that well-targeted, well-supported interventions can have – especially when schools lead the way.
Mrs Owens was involved in the early scoping exercises for SHINE Sunderland. She was delighted when the £11 million fund for the city’s secondary schools became a reality as she knew it would have a significant impact on the future of the next generation of children in Sunderland.
“I think the initiative across the city – the whole SHINE Sunderland project in itself – is amazing.”
Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE, said, “The transition from primary to secondary school is a pivotal moment in a child’s life, and we know many children need ongoing support to help them navigate this successfully.”
“We are delighted to support this programme which aims to help ensure every child makes the best possible start to secondary school and provide the basis for them thrive and succeed in their future lives.”