Education charity The Access Project is to work with two Dixons Academies in Bradford as part of the National Tutoring Programme, to help students catch-up in their studies. Students at Dixons Allerton Academy and Dixons Cottingley Academy will benefit from our programme of personalised tuition and in-school mentoring, to help boost grades and build self-confidence, as the schools work to remedy the impact of the pandemic.
The Access Project will initially work with 161 students across the two sites. From September, that number will rise to 180 students. The programme will help students improve their grades through tuition with volunteer tutors and boost revision skills and self belief through mentoring. GCSE students supported by us for two years make five months more progress in their studies than similar peers, according to independent analysis by FFT Education Datalab.
Prior to lockdown, students working with The Access Project were four times as likely as similar students to place at one of the top 40 to 50 universities in the UK, where the access gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students is widest.
Dixons Academies Trust are committed to challenging educational and social disadvantage by helping students reach their academic potential, regardless of background. They work to improve outcomes for students in areas with high levels of socioeconomic disadvantage. Declan, a student at Dixons Cottingley Academy said: “I decided to join The Access Project because of the gaps in learning I have had during the lockdowns because of the pandemic. It’s a great opportunity to fill in the gaps, and it’s also free and helps you get into university!”
Jason Patterson, Principal of Dixons Cottingley Academy, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to build a strong relationship with The Access Project which works to help the most disadvantaged students improve their grades and succeed in their education. We’ve chosen to work with TAP because we know their work makes a real difference.”
Clare Skelding, Executive Principal at Dixons Allerton Academy, said: “Working with The Access Project will boost our efforts to challenge educational and social disadvantage in Bradford. We’re determined to help our students bridge the gap in their studies caused by COVID through The Access Project’s tuition and mentoring programme.”
Our Chief Executive, Nathan Sansom, said: “We’re delighted to be launching these two school partnerships. We’d like to extend a huge thanks to the professionals and university students giving their time to support the project as volunteer tutors. The one to one support from professionals who can put learning into real-life context and support from role models in universities across the country is hugely motivating for our pupils.”