RM SuccessMaker case study
Using SuccessMaker to make a difference
Kenton School is an 11-19 inner city comprehensive with 2,000 pupils. It has 28 feeder schools, many situated in socially-deprived areas of the city. A high proportion of pupils have low self-esteem and inadequate literacy skills which impede their access to the National Curriculum.
Kenton School in Newcastle initially implemented SuccessMaker to support their growing number of SEN pupils. The gains these pupils made in the first two terms were very impressive so they decided to try it with mainstream pupils. The results showed that SuccessMaker had a very positive effect with pupils across the ability range.
Making a difference to pupils with Special Needs
Kenton School purchased six SuccessMaker licences to be installed in the SEN department as a trial. Selected pupils from years 7-9 were withdrawn from lessons to use reading and maths courses for 25 minutes four times per week. 70 pupils use SuccessMaker in the first two terms.
The average gains were impressive: over 1 1/4 years in reading and one year in maths.
Considering this level of achievement among the lowest ability pupils, Kenton decided to see the impact SuccessMaker would have on middle-ability pupils.
Helping middle-ability pupils improve their results
Twelve matched pairs of pupils in Year 7 were identified - one half received four x 20 minute sessions on Reader's Workshop for six weeks. They were then re-tested using Standard Reading Test (NFER).
In six weeks they made an average gain of 14 months. All but three of the SuccessMaker group improved their Reading Test score while only two pupils from the control group improved their score.
These results convinced Kenton to expand SuccessMaker even further.
A positive impact on Key Stage 3 tests and GCSE results
To see the impact on exam results, Kenton identified two middle-band groups of 29 and 30 pupils in Year 9. One group was taught normally and the other had SuccessMaker incorporated into their maths lessons for ten weeks.
The SuccessMaker reports clearly showed that every pupil, regardless of level, was underachieving in fractions. This provided a focus for all Year 9 teaching.
The average gain for pupils who completed at least 30 sessions in the ten weeks was eight months.
In Key Stage 3 tests later in the year twice as many in the SuccessMaker group (22) achieved level 5.
The SuccessMaker trademark is owned, and is licensed to RM by Pearson Digital Learning.
"During their time on SuccessMaker there was a noticeable improvement in attendance"
David Sweeney, Senior Teacher, Kenton School
