Atlantic Academy is the most improved school in Devon for GCSEs

Atlantic Academy is the most improved school in Devon for GCSEs, according to government data.

The academy puts its incredible results and transformation down to high aspirations and hard work.

Students and staff at Atlantic Academy, located between Bideford and Bude, are celebrating after government data has confirmed they have achieved the biggest improvement in the number of students achieving grades 9-4 and 9-5 for GCSE English and maths across the whole of Devon.

Its results mean the academy is the 9th most improved school in the country for students securing a 5 or above in their English and maths GCSEs, with 62% of students gaining English and maths at 4+ and 46% at 5+.

The official figures also confirm the academy is the 7th most improved school in the county for Progress 8 scores, which are an important indicator of student performance and progress across their entire education.

Atlantic Academy joined Athena Learning Trust in 2018 following the former free school, Route 39 Academy, being judged ‘Inadequate’ in all areas by Ofsted. Since joining the Trust, the academy has seen rapid improvement under new leadership, with strong outcomes for its students.

In the five years on from joining, the academy is now judged to be ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted, which praised how staff are, 'determined to improve outcomes for pupils', including encouraging students to 'commit to their learning' by minimising distractions and improving behaviour, alongside introducing thorough support systems to help increase attendance.

The academy sees its commitment to learning and hard work in the classroom as well as its focus on improving student attendance as integral to its success. Across all GCSE students, staff and leaders have focused on building a disruption free learning environment, a carefully planned curriculum which bolsters the students’ core knowledge, and have introduced recap questions in every lesson to help students commit their course content to memory.

Alongside this, the academy provides further support through daily booster sessions in English or maths for all of their GCSE students, additional after school lessons in core subjects with fully subsidised transport so every student can attend, and targeted maths and English tuition for those who need extra support.

Lynsey Slater, Principal at Atlantic Academy, said: “I believe Atlantic Academy helps prepare all of our students for future success, through the combination of a broad and balanced curriculum taught by a team of committed professional who care deeply about their students, a school wide programme to engender a love of reading and a pupil support team to offer targeted help and support as required.

“We are excited about the next chapter in Atlantic Academy's journey, as we continue to grow as a school. We believe that by attending school every day, and participating fully in all learning opportunities, every student will have the knowledge and skills to gain the crucial qualifications in maths and English which ensures all pathways for progression at post 16 are available.”