Customer Story: Furze Platt Senior School

• Commitment to Integration: A focus on embedding Access GCSEPod within the school to create a consistent and effective learning environment.
• Teacher Training: A key objective is to train more teachers to utilise Access GCSEPod effectively in classrooms.
• Enhanced Accessibility: Features like subtitles and translation tools make learning more inclusive for all students, particularly for those with whom English is an additional language.

About Furze Platt Senior School

Furze Platt, a senior school based in Maidenhead, prides themselves on being a highly aspirational, high achieving and fully inclusive school, providing an “outstanding education that enables all our students to achieve excellent outcomes”.

In this customer story, we sat down with Raising Achievement Manager, Debbie Feather, who shared her experience in the utilisation of our curriculum content and assessment platform, Access GCSEPod.

A push for renewed focus

Debbie has championed the use of Access GCSEPod at Furze Platt for three years. Initially, the platform's integration was met with significant enthusiasm, thanks to incentives like Amazon vouchers and certificates.

This initial boost in engagement laid a strong foundation for Access GCSEPod's potential impact. Debbie is now eager to re-energise the platform's role within the school and maximise its benefits for students in the upcoming academic year.

The GCSEPod platform is fully embedded within our school, since we’ve been active users now for over three years. During the next academic year, I am to ensure all staff are utilising its features effectively, both inside and outside the classroom.

Maximising Access GCSEPod's impact in the classroom

Debbie is excited to expand Access GCSEPod's role within the classroom. While the platform is already used effectively for assignments and homework activities, she believes its full potential remains untapped. By empowering teachers to fully utilise Access GCSEPod's resources, Debbie aims to create an even more dynamic and engaging learning environment.

To achieve this, Debbie will provide teachers with enhanced training and support, showcasing how Access GCSEPod can seamlessly integrate into lesson plans. With a focus on time-saving features like self-marking homework, Debbie is confident that teachers will see the platform as an invaluable tool for both themselves and their students. By unlocking Access GCSEPod’s full potential, Debbie hopes to significantly enhance student outcomes.

Empowering students through personalised learning

Access GCSEPod has demonstrated a particularly strong impact on student engagement and achievement in subjects like English Literature and Science. For example, Year 10 students have found the platform invaluable for tackling complex units of work such as Macbeth. By breaking down challenging concepts into manageable chunks, Access GCSEPod allows students to grasp difficult ideas at their own pace.

Debbie has observed that students quickly come to appreciate Access GCSEPod’s flexibility and accessibility. The platform's mobile compatibility means students can easily access it on the go, transforming downtime into productive learning opportunities. Whether waiting for a bus or relaxing at home, students can seamlessly reinforce their understanding of key topics. This personalised approach to learning has been shown to boost student confidence and independence.

What’s great about Access GCSEPod is that it can be accessed on mobile devices. Most students are glued to their phones, and this presents a great opportunity for them to access the short pods while out and about.

Supporting diverse learning needs

Debbie comments, “Access GCSEPod has been more than just a learning tool for our EAL students; it has become a lifeline. For our Ukrainian refugees, in particular, the platform has provided a sense of normalcy and routine amid the upheaval of their circumstances. By immersing themselves in academic content, these students have found solace and purpose, fostering a sense of belonging within the school community”.

Debbie also noted that those students’ unwavering determination to succeed, despite the immense challenges they face, has been an inspiration to all. “These students have demonstrated an extraordinary work ethic, overcoming language barriers, cultural differences, and the emotional trauma of war with remarkable resilience. Their journey is a testament to the human spirit and a powerful reminder of the importance of education as a force for hope and healing”.

Witnessing the progress of Furze Platt’s Ukrainian students has had a profound impact on their English-speaking peers. Their stories have fostered empathy, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the opportunities available to them. Together, these students are building a stronger, more compassionate school community.

Crucially, Access GCSEPod's accessibility features have been instrumental in supporting these students. Features such as subtitles, transcriptions, and adjustable playback speeds have ensured that all students, regardless of their language proficiency or learning style, can access and benefit from the platform. By tailoring the learning experience to individual needs, Access GCSEPod has empowered EAL students to thrive, demonstrating the platform's commitment to inclusivity and equity.

Exceptional support

Debbie was keen to note that the support provided throughout the process has been exemplary. Natalie, Access GCSEPod’s customer success manager, has been a dedicated point of contact from the outset, ensuring open and consistent communication.

“Her responsiveness to queries has been outstanding, with all questions answered promptly and comprehensively. Natalie’s knowledge and support have been invaluable in introducing us to new product features such as the Key Stage 3 resources and the “Getting ready for Key Stage 4” resources.

Natalie from Customer Success has been great. Always there, always quick to answer questions, and always on hand to demonstrate new software features.

Future plans and objectives

Looking ahead, Debbie aims to formalise the use of Access GCSEPod further. She plans to analyse the correlation between Access GCSEPod usage and student performance in Year 11 to demonstrate its impact. Additionally, she intends to introduce summer activities for students transitioning to Key Stage 4, ensuring they are prepared for the new academic challenges.

Debbie also plans to enhance parental engagement by communicating more about the platform's benefits and providing resources for parents to support their children's learning at home. By highlighting top Access GCSEPod users and celebrating their achievements, she hopes to motivate more students to take advantage of the platform.

Conclusion

The experience at Furze Platt highlights the potential of Access GCSEPod to enhance student engagement and academic performance. Under Debbie's leadership, the school is committed to maximising the benefits of this platform. By providing comprehensive teacher training, promoting parental involvement, and leveraging the platform’s accessibility features, Furze Platt is setting a strong example for other schools aiming to integrate technology into their teaching practices.