Topic outline

  • About Project 26

    Click here for Summary of Project 26 with all dates to download

    Click to link to: Costs and how to book

    Every year we do our upmost for every pupil, after an eleven-year period in education, to achieve their absolute best in each qualification entered in order to open doors of opportunity to a successful future.

    In parallel, we work within a system that enforces us as professionals to respond to ongoing change within the assessment systems to ensure we can help pupils do this.

    Success looks different for all pupils. The design of the curriculum is essential. High quality teaching is of paramount importance. The culture and ethos of the school can sometimes be the key enabler for a pupil to do well. The building of confidence in order to tackle assessments positively and successfully is an aspect that should not be undermined.

    Every year we approach a cohort’s last academic year in Key Stage 4 with attention to whole cohort level, classes and individuals; securing post-16 destinations that reflect the ambition we hold with them.

    Each year we learn lessons from analysis of performance in each subject area and across all subjects in reviewing Attainment 8 and Progress 8.

    In July 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) initiated a curriculum and assessment review, led by Professor Becky Francis which has been consulted upon, and the outcomes are to be published in 2025 for implementation.

    ‘The Curriculum and Assessment Review Group will undertake a review of the existing national curriculum and statutory assessment system, including qualification pathways. The Review will seek to refresh the curriculum to ensure it is cutting edge, fit for purpose and meeting the needs of children and young people to support their future life and work. The Review will ensure that the curriculum appropriately balances ambition, excellence, relevance, flexibility and inclusivity for all our children and young people, and it will ensure meaningful, rigorous and high-value pathways for all at 16 to 19. The Review will contribute to the Government’s missions to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child and young person, at every stage, as well as to the Government’s mission on growth’.
     Curriculum and assessment review - aims, terms of reference and working principle

    We have an ambition to be above 50 for Attainment 8 for Hampshire. In Hampshire we have schools that have continued to do exceptionally well overall and in individual subjects, as well as every school each year renewing a focus on a subject/subjects that they further wish to improve. In addition, we have some students who are ‘hard to reach’ or other challenges such as in year admissions which require special attention. 

    To that end, we wish to invite you to join a working group Project 26 with a focus on further improving attainment. You should be able to commit a senior leader with responsibility for raising standards to sessions spaced throughout the year, to work with like-minded colleagues from Hampshire schools and key input from a HIAS inspector to help you in the focus on further improving attainment for pupils in your school. 

    • Session overview and dates

      Session one - 20 May 2025, 1pm to 4pm, face-to-face meeting
      Launch of Project 26 meeting in a Hampshire school. Key input on national messages, Hampshire specific information and messages from the County Education Manager and secondary School Improvement Manager that inform this project. Contextual sharing of cohort information and selection of spotlight students for Project 26. Exploration into motivation and achievement in Year 11 and that of current Year 10 into 11 next year. Setting up of gap task.

      Session two - 2 July 2025, 9am to 10:30am, online session
      Input into Project 26 focus pupils for review. Sharing of outcomes from gap task 1 with 7 spotlight pupils.

      Session three - 23 September 2025, 1pm to 4pm, face-to-face meeting
      Readiness to learn and readiness to perform in assessments. The rhythm of Year 11 and lived experience of pupils. Tweaking the narrative and making high expectations a reality for students. Gap task setting.

      Session four - 1 December 2025, 2pm to 3pm, online session
      Project 26 review of summary themes from gap task. Feedback on themes using best evidence in practice and leadership response.

      Session five - 25 February 2026, 1pm to 4pm, face to face meeting
      The purpose, sense of belonging, work ethic and destination profiles of Project 26 students. Key speaker input. Setting of gap task.

      Session six - 24 March 2026, 2pm to 3pm, online session
      Trio analysis of gap task findings. Use of question tool to challenge, support and provide ways forward. Review and feedback by HIAS inspector on spotlight pupils.

      Session seven - 28 April 2026, 1pm to 4pm, face-to-face meeting
      The culture, ethos and expectations for a school achieving positive Progress 8 and Attainment of 50 or above. Leadership enquiry and review of key learning from year.

      Session eight - 2 June 2026, 2pm to 3pm, online session
      Finale, evaluation and feedback.

    • Costs and how to book

      If you would like to be involved, please complete Registration form for Project 26.

      Cost: £350 for the whole programme (two participants per school). This will be charged up front at the start of the programme.

      • Project 26 Session 1