Dixons Academies Trust

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Dixons Academies Trust & Impetus

Impetus helped us crystallise how our group of highly committed schools can best improve outcomes for our students.

– Sir Nick Weller, CEO, Dixons Academies Trust

The need: In 2018 only 56% of Bradford pupils got a grade 4 (equivalent to a 'C' GCSE) or above in English and maths, compared with 64% nationally. 36% of Bradford pupils are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Our charity partner: Dixons runs 13 mainstream schools in Bradford and Leeds. They open new schools and take on and improve existing schools, to give children a better education and the qualifications they need.

Our impact: We’ve helped Dixons make sure that teaching and learning across their schools is excellent. The Department for Education’s 2018 league tables showed Dixons to be the second-best performing trust in the country in terms of progress for secondary school pupils.

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Educational attainment

Only 40% of young people on free school meals pass English and maths GCSEs, compared with 68% of all other pupils. With the right support, we can make life after school fairer.

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Defining disadvantage: a response to the DfE Green Paper ‘Schools that work for everyone’

What does ‘disadvantaged’ young people mean? There are different ways of measuring disadvantage – from free school meals to household income. We use ‘Ever 6 FSM’ – pupils who have been looked after, in care, or eligible for free school meals in the past six years.

October 2016

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Life After School: Confronting the crisis

This report reveals the failure to give young people who fail their English and maths GCSEs the first time around with a second chance to succeed – irrespective of their background or their provider. Part of our Life After School campaign.

March 2017

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The road most travelled? The 16-19 journey through education and training

This report reveals the journey of 16-19 year olds through education and training: who they are, how they perform, and where they go. Part of our Life After School campaign.

March 2016

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2016 – not all bad!

2016 – not all bad! What’s the first word you think of when you look back on 2016? I can hazard a guess – ‘uncertain’, ‘tumultuous’, maybe ‘historic’, maybe something less polite! But for me the word is ‘inspiring’.

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