Pupil Premium
Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2024-2025
At The Ongar Academy, we are committed to ensuring that all our students, regardless of their background, can achieve their full potential. We recognise that some students face barriers to their learning, and the Pupil Premium grant provides us with vital additional funding to address these challenges. For the academic year 2024-2025, our school received a Pupil Premium allocation of £9000.
Identifying the Barriers to Educational Achievement
Through surveys and ongoing assessment, we have identified several key barriers that our disadvantaged pupils may face. These include:
- Home Learning Environment: A notable proportion of students report inconsistencies in having a quiet and dedicated space conducive to effective study. Furthermore, access to essential technology, such as computers, laptops, or tablets, and reliable internet connectivity remains a significant disparity for some, potentially hindering their engagement with digital learning resources and completion of online assignments. Access to adequate study materials, including books and reading resources, also presents a challenge for a number of students.
- Home Support and Well-being: While many students benefit from parental support with homework, a segment experiences a lack of such assistance. Moreover, a considerable number of students report experiencing worries and stress outside of the school environment, which can impact their ability to focus on their studies. Issues such as inconsistent access to nutritious breakfast and a lack of necessary learning equipment at home are also pertinent factors affecting student well-being and academic preparedness.
- Experiences at School: Student feedback indicates that a significant minority do not consistently feel that their teachers fully comprehend the specific challenges they encounter. Comfort levels in seeking academic support vary, with some students hesitant to ask for help when needed. Evaluations of previous extra support initiatives suggest a need for ongoing refinement to maximise their impact. Furthermore, perceptions of equal opportunities and a strong sense of belonging and acceptance within the school community are not universally shared. Some students report feeling excluded or treated differently, and the perceived effectiveness of the school's inclusion efforts is an area for further development.
- How Our Pupil Premium Allocation Will Be Spent
To address these identified barriers, our Pupil Premium strategy for 2024-2025 will focus on the following key areas:
- Enhancing Access to Resources and Technology: We will explore strategies to provide access to devices and reliable internet for students who lack them, as highlighted by the survey (Action 1-3). This will involve access to loaned laptops, after school homework clubs and partnerships with companies such as o2 to provide internet access for all our learners. We will also improve access to study materials for those who need them.
- Improving the Home Learning Environment: We will investigate providing resources and support to families to help create more conducive study spaces at home. We will also provide breakfast in the morning via breakfast club (8:10 – 8:40).
- Targeted Academic and Well-being Support: We will invest in training for staff to enhance their understanding of the challenges faced by our disadvantaged students. We will also review and improve our systems for students to ask for help and evaluate the effectiveness of our extra support provisions to ensure they are impactful. Furthermore, we will implement initiatives to promote emotional well-being and address issues of stress and worry.
- Fostering Inclusion and Equal Opportunities: We will develop and strengthen strategies to promote a sense of belonging and acceptance for all students and actively address instances where students feel left out or treated differently. We will also work to ensure that all students have equal access to the full range of school opportunities, including clubs and activities, potentially by part funding these and providing support with transport.
- Preparing for Future Goals: We will enhance our career guidance and support to ensure that disadvantaged students feel well-prepared for their future aspirations. This may involve unifrog training, links to careers in the classroom and career workshops to expand student pathways.
Measuring the Impact of Our Pupil Premium Spending
We will carefully monitor the impact of these initiatives through a range of measures, including:
- Tracking the academic progress and attainment of Pupil Premium eligible students compared to their peers.
- Monitoring attendance, behaviour, and engagement data for this group of students.
- Gathering feedback from students, parents, and staff on the effectiveness of the interventions.
- Analysing the impact of specific programs and initiatives on student outcomes.
In the preceding academic year (2023-2024), our Pupil Premium funding was allocated to strategies aimed at improving the progress and attainment of disadvantaged students. Analysis of Key Stage 4 data revealed that, despite individual successes, the overall progress and attainment of this group was considerably below school expectations, with a notable gap compared to their non-disadvantaged peers. Attendance was identified as a significant factor affecting progress, with a substantial proportion of Pupil Premium students having attendance below 90%. Behaviour also presented a challenge, as a disproportionate number of disadvantaged students received negative behaviour points. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continued to influence outcomes, particularly in relation to student wellbeing and mental health, which presented complex challenges. Positively, parental engagement improved due to proactive communication from the Pupil Premium Lead. Key learning points from this period have informed the development of this current strategy, allowing for a more nuanced and responsive approach to addressing the evolving needs of our students.
Date of Next Review: Summer term, 2025
We are committed to regularly reviewing and refining our Pupil Premium strategy to ensure it effectively supports our disadvantaged students and helps them to achieve their very best.