Scheme goes national after schools’ success

A scheme to improve the achievement of special needs and disabled pupils is being rolled out across the country following an Oldham pilot scheme.

Garath Jackson, North West’s Achievement for All regional leader, said the scheme has improved reading, writing, maths, behaviour and reduced absences.

The scheme, aimed at special needs and disabled pupils (SEND), has been in place for the past two years in 44 Oldham schools.

Mr Jackson, who led the pilot as a seconded head teacher at St Martin’s Primary School, in Fitton Hill, said: “The rates of progress for Oldham’s pupils that took part were fantastic and the outcomes related to emotional well-being were also very impressive.

“There’s been a noticeable improvements in English and maths. One of the major impacts has been increased engagement between parents and teachers, which has been effective in building a genuine partnership between home and school.”

It targeted four key areas: leadership and management, quality of teaching, engaging parents and the achievement and aspirations of the vulnerable pupils.

“Vulnerable children do not engage in school, therefore their learning is hampered. We make the school and teachers much more accountable for the progress of the children.

“The big thing was to change the aspirations of the parents and teachers.”

Changes were made to the quality of learning, how parents engaged with teachers and the management of behaviour and bullying, among other things.

The Department for Education has commissioned the Achievement for All 3As charity to roll out the quality mark scheme nationwide over the next three years.