The curriculum is ambitious, broad and coherently sequenced. It supports pupils to build knowledge in a logical way. Leaders understand its strengths and areas that require further development. Their decisions ensure that all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), can access the full curriculum.

Ofsted

Using data provided by primary schools, student progress is monitored through our KS3 Academic Flightpath to ensure that every student remains on track to achieve their academic potential. Where students begin to fall behind, targeted intervention programmes are implemented to provide additional support and help them catch up. 

The quality of teaching at the Lower Academy is consistently strong because pupil progress is carefully tracked and informs teachers' planning. Through regular assessment and responsive teaching, learning is adapted to meet individual needs, ensuring all students are supported to make progress and achieve their potential. 

Students have formal assessments twice a year; following these assessments we will report progress to parents and carers. The results of the assessments allow us to implement appropriate therapies and interventions, to drive further progress, create equity and remove barriers. 

These interventions include, but are not limited to: 

• The Academy Out of Hours Learning Programme  

• Regular homework and independent study tasks  

• After-school intervention sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays  

• Continued investment in digital learning platforms, including SPARX  

• Curriculum pathways tailored to meet specific student needs  

• Support from Student Development Teams  

• Access to external agencies that support mental health and wellbeing  

• Financial assistance and funding to help remove barriers to learning 

• Reading and literacy intervention programmes  

• Numeracy catch-up support  

• Small-group tuition and targeted mentoring  

• Attendance support initiatives  

• Study skills, revision and careers workshops  

• SEND and EAL support programmes  

• Breakfast Club and supervised learning opportunities  

• Transition support from primary to secondary education 

Whilst we will always support students with removing barriers to learning, they are expected to bring their own learning equipment, including pens, a school bag, the Basildon Academy PE Uniform (on allocated days) & tupperware (on allocated days).