Raising Achievement

At Melbourn Village College, we are committed to ensuring that every pupil, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to achieve outstanding outcomes and make excellent progress. With 24% of our pupils classified as 'disadvantaged' by the government, we recognise the importance of addressing the challenges faced by all our young people. We believe that with the right support, every pupil can achieve excellent outcomes and we are dedicated to minimising the impact of disadvantage through high-quality teaching, robust pastoral care, and targeted interventions.

Our approach to raising achievement: We have developed a comprehensive strategy centred around five key areas that work together to support all pupils in reaching their academic goals:

1. Quality first teaching
   Great teaching is the cornerstone of pupil success. We invest in extensive professional development (CPD) for our teachers and have a dedicated teaching and learning team that continuously works to refine classroom practice. To ensure no pupil falls behind, we offer intervention and booster sessions, providing learners with targeted support from subject specialists.
2. High-quality pastoral care
   Pupils learn best when they feel safe and supported. Our pastoral care system, combined with a structured tutor time programme, ensures that all pupils are equipped with the study skills they need for success while fostering an environment of care and security.
3. Rigorous data monitoring
   We use data to closely track each pupil's progress, regularly assessing examination and assessment results to identify areas for improvement. This allows us to quickly adjust our teaching and interventions, ensuring that every pupil gets the support they need to excel.
4. Improving literacy and reading ability
   Literacy is key to academic success. We implement targeted reading programmes like Lexonik and IDL for students whose reading ages are below their chronological age. These programmes help pupils to develop the decoding skills and reading speed needed to perform well under exam conditions. By improving literacy and reading comprehension, we enable pupils to access the full curriculum and approach exams with greater confidence. Lexonik has already proven to deliver huge increases in reading ages, with pupils making, on average, 24 months progress in their reading age in the six weeks of the programme.
5. Engaging parents and carers:
   We know that pupil success is best achieved when parents and carers are actively involved. We work closely with families, providing clear communication and guidance on how to support their children at home. From revision techniques to mental health resources, we offer a wealth of advice to help parents become active partners in their child's education.

Supporting pupils through study support and mock exams: We understand that GCSEs are a challenging time for our pupils. To support them, we offer a comprehensive Study Support programme, which includes both drop-in sessions and targeted invitations for additional teacher input. These sessions focus on practice and revision, helping pupils consolidate their knowledge and develop effective study habits.

In addition, we run formal mock exams in November, preparing students for the pressure and conditions of the real exams. Full details, including timetables and revision lists, are provided ahead of the exams to ensure pupils are well-prepared.

How can parents help? We encourage parents to get involved by accessing our online resources, which provide guidance on how to best support pupils with their studies. Whether through structured revision plans or advice on mental health and well-being, our resources are designed to help parents play an active role in their child's education.

Contact us for support: Should you or your child need additional support, our staff are always available to help. Whether it's advice on exam preparation, revision strategies, or well-being, we are here to provide guidance. If you have concerns about your child’s mental health, please contact our Safeguarding team.

Everybody is somebody