Education Today Education Today Magazine
Persistent absence rates are at an all-time high, doubling since pre-pandemic figures according to UK government data. As more and more students struggle with EBSA (emotionally based school avoidance), you’re not alone if you’re feeling the strain — but solutions do exist.
At Academy21, we bring schools the support they need to get anxious and withdrawn students reengaged with their learning. Our online alternative provision guides thousands of pupils to strong outcomes each year, including young people like Lilia.
How online Alternative Provision can support your school
From long-term absence to top GCSE grades, this is Lilia’s story. After ill health led to an absence spanning years, Lilia’s anxiety around school began to escalate. Working together with Lilia, her school, and her family, Academy21 tailored a long-term provision plan — one that would enable Lilia to gradually catch up and rebuild her studies in a comfortable environment, regain her confidence for learning, and achieve the GCSE results she’d need for the future.
Today, we’re proud to say that Lilia is back at school in person, attending her dream Sixth Form to study her A Levels. Here are five ways Academy21’s online AP can support you to improve attendance levels and boost engagement for your pupils like Lilia.
1. Fast intervention from day one
As with all school absences early intervention is the key to avoiding learning loss. While Lilia had years of absence before her family found Academy21, this can be prevented for your pupils.
You can use online alternative provision to support learners at any time in the academic year, with quick set-up and implementation times. Our rapid enrolment process can onboard students to timetables suited to their needs within 48 hours.
2. High-quality teaching, 100% live online
Online alternative provision offers anxious students like Lilia the ideal environment to rebuild their academic confidence. Our expert teachers are passionate and knowledgeable and have chosen a career in AP. They are experienced in delivering engaging classes to anxious or withdrawn students, and with classes 100% live, they can adapt their delivery to their students’ needs. For students who don’t yet feel comfortable leaving their home for school, Academy21’s small online classes eliminate triggers (such as crowded hallways and noisy canteens) to get learning back on track.
3. Flexibility for schools and students
With Academy21, your pupils’ provision can flex up and down as needed with no long wait times and no additional fees. From the moment Lilia joined us, we worked to create a timetable that would gradually expand over time, easing her back into education while keeping her on track to succeed at GCSE. Our online alternative provision is designed to meet a wide range of needs, from sixth-day provision requirements to longer-term support, tailored to each individual pupil.
4. Successful reintegration
Ultimately, the goal for us at Academy21 — and for the schools and local authorities we work with — is to see students reintegrate into the mainstream environment whenever it’s right for them. Through a combination of strong academic focus and support for wellbeing in a stable learning environment, we guide students like Lilia to gradually re-establish confidence, routines, and self-belief, getting them back to the physical classroom and towards successful futures. Achieving five 8s and two 7s in her GCSEs, Lilia is now excited to be studying A Levels at her top-choice Sixth Form college in Cambridge.
“I needed a place where I could concentrate in lessons,
not feel intimidated by classmates, and teachers that I
could communicate with – all of which I received with
Academy21… I feel I have the confidence to go [to
school] in person now.”– Lilia
5. A strong partnership
The work we do at Academy21 is all possible because of our partnership approach. Our team works closely with schools and local authorities across the country to deliver the best possible outcomes.
With proactive communication and round-the-clock access to reporting and monitoring (from attendance to engagement data), we keep you up to date and your students on track.
If you are interested in finding out more about Academy 21 and our alternative provision, or wish to discuss the individual needs of your pupils, then please contact us.
X 0800 208 8210
X contact@academy21.co.uk
X www.academy21.co.uk/alternative-provision
