Accompaniment
The ‘Accompaniment’ project, led by St Aidan’s Catholic Academy and St Anthony’s Girls Catholic Academy, aims to support disadvantaged students moving to secondary school. Vulnerable students will be paired with an “invested person”. Together, they’ll engage in monthly activities to build confidence, a sense of belonging and provide a smoother transition to secondary school.
ASPIRE
The ASPIRE project, a five-year initiative aimed at addressing challenges faced by disadvantaged students in one of the city’s most deprived areas, is led by Sandhill View Academy. The project focuses on character development, offering students opportunities for personal growth beyond the traditional curriculum through activities that nurture ambition, sincerity, pride, inclusion, resilience, and ethical thinking. With the goal of improving attendance, reducing behavioural issues, and raising academic attainment, ASPIRE will provide enriching experiences such as educational trips, leadership programmes, and mental health support. The project also aims to enhance social mobility by breaking down barriers to higher education and university participation.
Celebrating Diverse Sunderland
Thornhill Academy’s ‘Celebrating Diverse Sunderland’ project aims to build stronger community ties and create a more inclusive environment for children to thrive academically and socially. Over three years, the project will focus on improving pupil literacy, supporting mental health, and easing transitions between primary and secondary school by building understanding between schools and their diverse communities. Research will explore topics such as early language teaching, parental engagement, and the impact of community dynamics on children’s mental health. The initiative will also involve parent and staff input through steering groups and aims to encourage greater school-community connections, boost parental involvement, and provide resources to strengthen these bonds.
Crafting a Curriculum with Poverty in Mind
Sean Harris, an Improvement Lead at Tees Valley Education Trust, is developing a curriculum that addresses the challenges faced by students from low-income backgrounds. Sean believes in incorporating students’ perspectives to create a more meaningful and engaging learning experience.
Cradle to Career North Birkenhead
SHINE, the Steve Morgan Foundation and Right to Succeed are working in partnership to better understand the drivers of poor outcomes in this particularly challenged part of the Wirral, which is one of the lowest achieving areas nationally. We are working closely with schools, the local authority and community leaders to devise a programme which encompasses every stage of a child’s life, from Cradle to Career.
Supporting Transition and Developing Emotional Intelligence
This project, led by Whitefield Primary School, in Liverpool. promotes self-regulation from early years to Y6 using the Zones of Regulation and emotional literacy, addressing the challenge many children face when transitioning to secondary school by developing a common language between primary and secondary staff to enhance emotional literacy and improve learning access.