Pupil Premium

At Axe Valley Academy, we are committed to maximising the achievement, progress and wider development of disadvantaged pupils, and narrowing the gap between their outcomes and those of their peers from more advantaged backgrounds.

There is a substantial body of evidence that shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds, whether that be because of socio-economic circumstances or due to family upheaval, generally face significant additional challenges in reaching their potential at school. Consequently many do not perform as well as their peers from more advantaged backgrounds, often with large gaps seen between the achievements of each group. Indeed, after prior attainment, poverty is the single most important factor in predicting a child’s future life chances.

Our ambition is that no child is left behind socially or academically because of their background and the consequent disadvantage this might lead to.

The Pupil Premium is a fund which comes directly into school from the government to help us to achieve these aims.  It is targeted at students who are or have received Free School Meals at any time in the past 6 years; or are ‘looked after children’ who are in the care of a local authority; or have been adopted having previously been a looked after by a local authority. 

At Axe Valley Academy, we believe that for a student to achieve the attainment and progress possible is not about where the student comes from, but instead, about developing the necessary skills, attitudes and values required to succeed. To achieve this, we believe that we must work in partnership with our students, parents and carers, staff and the community to provide an outstanding education for our young people. We place a strong emphasis on ensuring a high quality of education so that every student has equal access to the very best conditions in order to achieve and succeed. Providing quality first teaching and learning is our principal approach to diminish the difference -an approach which is supported by national research.

We will regularly seek to develop strategies and interventions which can improve the progress and attainment of these pupils. We will seek to base our provision on research, both national and local including the Education Endowment Fund Teacher Toolkit and the Sutton Trust evaluations of intervention impact. However, our primary strategy in improving the outcomes for our Disadvantaged Students (DS) is quality first teaching with the right targeted support to overcome any barrier to learning not overcome by this provision.

We have developed a comprehensive 3-year strategy that sets out the actions we will take with the additional funding we have been allocated in order to tackle the main areas of challenge facing our disadvantaged students. Details of our strategy can be accessed here - Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2022-2023

If you would like more information please contact Mrs Lisa Wren, Assistant Headteacher (the member of the Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for Pupil Premium) at lwren@axevalley.bep.ac.