Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2023-24

The Halley Academy is committed to creating a universal culture for all students that demands success. Where aiming high is actively encouraged through the expectation that students will strive to achieve regardless of circumstance.  To deliver this the Academy will set high standards for all students, breaking down the barriers that financial inequality creates to ensure that high aspirations are the expectation for all students no matter their background. 

All students will be provided with a broad and balanced curriculum that is rooted in the core, designed to provide its students with a dynamic, informed curriculum offer that is as least as ambitious as the National Curriculum. The curriculum will ensure high levels of academic achievement at the end of each Key Stage, whilst promoting students’ sense of global identity and contexts. This greater understanding of the 21st Century World will be underpinned through the delivery of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Key Stage 3, appropriate Level 2 and 3 qualifications at Key Stage 4, and the International Baccalaureate Careers Related Programme (IBCP), BTEC vocational qualifications and T-Levels at Key Stage 5, which will be centred on enhancing student attainment in line with national standards. 

Disadvantaged student performance and positive learning behaviours will be monitored through robust academy systems, rewarding and applauding success of all kinds through the setting and achievement of challenging targets. These targets will remain appropriate to the ability level of the student, irrespective of their background.

Staff at the Academy will ensure that Disadvantaged students remain a high-profile priority within the Academy through the identification and monitoring of academic performance, well-being, attendance and behaviour. This will ensure that all stakeholders are focussed on reducing the difference between Disadvantaged and Other students. 

The Academy’s current Pupil Premium Strategy is designed to identify and intervene with Disadvantaged students who are falling behind when compared to their peers. The strategy demonstrates the Academy’s belief that all students should have access to Quality First Teaching (QFT) and wrap around pastoral support through the Academy’s Small School model. This is further enhanced through the provision of additional tuition through a blended face-to-face and remote provision, incorporating the use of cutting edge technology to support the needs of all learners. 

The Halley Academy believes that every child matters, with student engagement and progress maximised through an appropriately supportive, but challenging learning environment based on strong relationships. This learning environment will be created and maintained by all staff, supported and advanced through its comprehensive evidence based CPD programme and delivered through weekly dedicated professional development. Subscriptions to evidence-based Department for Education approved providers such as the National College and SSAT will augment this further, providing a plethora of resources and materials for staff to continue their development outside of the classroom to support the needs of students. We have an instructional coaching model at the Academy to ensure that all teaching staff receive continual, bespoke and subject-specific professional development so they can be the most effective practitioners possible. 

The well-being of students is a central priority for the Academy due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on its students. The Academy’s Small School pastoral structure will deliver high quality localised care, providing human-scale support that is targeted to meet the needs of all students. A dedicated on-site counselling service will be available to all students, as well as close links with external agencies and support providers. 

The Academy’s enrichment, cross-curricular and cultural programmes will provide all students with opportunities to excel in areas of passion and interest outside of the realms of academic studies. This programme will develop and promote student well-being and supports positive mental health and behaviours, which in turn support academic progress.  

The Key Principles of the Academy’s Pupil Premium Strategy statement are as follows: 

• The work undertaken through the use of the Pupil Premium Grant will be aimed at improving the lives and future choices of our most disadvantaged students.
• Appropriate provision is in place to accelerate student progress to meet and exceed age expected standards. 
• Teaching and learning meets the needs of all students. 
• The well-being and aspirations of our students are enhanced and championed throughout the academy with the provision of high-quality career and enrichment opportunities to facilitate informed life choices. 
• We will ensure that appropriate provision is made for disadvantaged students, including the needs of socially disadvantaged students are assessed and addressed. 
• Pupil Premium funding will be linked to Academy priorities.

This explains the outcomes we are aiming for by the end of our current strategy plan, and how we will measure whether they have been achieved.

This details how we intend to spend our pupil premium (and recovery premium funding) this academic year to address the challenges listed above.

Total budgeted cost: £430,278