South Axholme Academy performing well above national education averages

South Axholme Academy's head boy, Ben Stewart, deputy head girl Esme Craven, deputy head girl Elliss Worboys, deputy head boy Joe Kelsey, head girl Emma Roberts and deputy head boy Tom Colcombe. Photo: Shaun Flannery Photography

The Epworth school has recorded excellent attendance and disciplinary figures compared to the national average for 2015-2016.

The school's percentage of sessions missed due to overall absence was 3.9 per cent - compared with a national average of five per cent - in figures released by the Department of Education RAISE online document from 2016.

The school's persistent absenteeism rate - numbers of students who have less than 90 per cent attendance - is four per cent lower than the national average of 12.4 per cent.

Principal Sarah Thompson said she was thrilled with the results, and they were down to some hard work by staff and students.

"Our current attendance figures are testament to the hard work of staff and the positive relationships we have with students and parents,"

"South Axholme Academy has worked hard over a period of time to ensure that students are studying appropriate courses with suitable help and support where needed, creating an ethos of success and positive engagement at the academy," Mrs Thompson said.

"With this information we are able to identify areas that may need looking at differently so that every child who comes to South Axholme is able to achieve their very best," Mrs Thompson said.

She said the improvements were being noticed by visitors to the academy.

"Visitors to the academy often comment on the purposeful atmosphere around the site and the positive and respectful relationships between staff and students," Mrs Thompson said.

"All of these things have created an academy that students want to be part of and feel valued in."

Parents and students alike take an interest in the academy's results from attendance and exclusion numbers.

"We have focused on raising the profile of attendance with both parents and students and have high expectations of all associated with the academy with regards to our ethos and values," Mrs Thompson said.

A homework club will soon be implemented at the school. It was the students' idea.

It is due to get underway this month, and was an initiative of the head boy and girl, and their deputies.

"The student leadership team presented their plans for the year to governors during the first term of the academic year and were given full support to enable the homework club to become a reality," Mrs Thompson said.