Darwin Aldridge Community Academy uses SAM Learning’s Three  Wave Intervention Programme to close the gap between pupil  premium students and their peers

Assistant Principal Rachel Lewis explains how she used SAM Learning’s Three-wave individual  student, class and whole-school Intervention Programme to close the gap between pupil  premium students and their peers at Aldridge Community Academy…  

The challenge 

As coordinator for Pupil Premium, I had been looking for a while for an effective intervention  programme with proven impact to improve what we do and close the gap between pupil  premium students and their peers. After an online demonstration, it was clear that SAM  Learning’s Three Wave Intervention Programme featured in its GCSE study and revision tool  did exactly what we needed it to and more. 

The implementation 

Students have been placed in intervention groups based on need, and work with our Higher  Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) on key topics. This has helped considerably with 

personalization, and enables them to work on tasks and activities tailored to their needs. Students love our SAM Learning tool, especially the element of competition, which inspires the  majority of students to complete additional tasks at home independently. Reports are then  shared with the staff that teach them so that they can see progress being made and where the strengths and difficulties for particular students lie. This allows the teacher to personalise work  in class and pinpoint what they need to do next to improve. 

The impact  

By the end of last term, all students on the intervention programme had improved by at least  one sub level for the subject on which they were working. Previously the progress for this cohort  had been static. SAM Learning has really improved engagement, personalisation and  intervention as a whole across the school and I would definitely recommend this excellent study  tool