What is Progress Community? A conversation with Paula Thompson
Supporting young people who are disengaged from education is at the heart of the work delivered by Progress Community, an innovative initiative designed to help students reconnect with learning.
Originally launched by Progress Schools in 2024, the programme has gone from strength-to-strength and has recently expanded to offer a more robust blended learning offer.
We spoke with Chief Operating Officer, Paula Thompson, to learn more about the programme, how it works, and the impact it’s already having on young people across England.
What is Progress Community?
Paula:
Progress Community is an educational programme designed for young people who for many reasons have barriers to attending a physical school environment and need a different approach to learning.
The programme provides students with a registered place on a school roll while offering a flexible and supportive way to remove the barriers that they face and support them on a journey back to the classroom. For many young people, simply reconnecting with learning is a crucial first step.
We combine personalised pastoral support with online learning for students in Key Stages 3 and 4, as well as support for their families. It’s about recognising that barriers to education are often complex and providing the support needed to overcome them.
Why was the programme created?
We were seeing a growing number of young people who weren’t accessing education for a variety of reasons. Traditional classroom settings simply weren’t working for them.
Progress Community was created to offer an alternative pathway for young people who are unable to attend school or are disengaged from education for a range of reasons. It’s designed to meet young people where they are, to understand their barriers and then to work holistically with them to help them move forwards, whilst providing online studies.
How does learning work in Progress Community?
Learning is really flexible and personalised. Students follow a blended curriculum, mainly working towards GCSEs in English and Maths, alongside a mix of other subjects such as Science, Health and Fitness, Reading, and Creative and Technology. In addition, we have our really exciting BravED curriculum which covers all PSHCE subjects. Lessons are delivered online in real time by our subject-specialist teachers through our virtual classroom and everything – from timetables to learning resources – is accessed via our online learning hub.
On top of that, students have extra structured time that they can use for supported self-study and targeted sessions with their Community Tutor, so they get help exactly where they need it. Tech integrated learning platforms are a big part of this, where students can work at their own pace and focus on the areas they need most support in. These options help to gamify study, enhancing teaching and accelerating the students learning even further.
Last year, our students smashed it on CENTURY, completing over 26,500 questions and even coming 5th globally in the Spring Challenge! That was such a proud moment for everyone.
How is Progress Community’s curriculum different from a mainstream school?
Whilst we still focus on core subjects like English, Maths, and Science, Progress Community is about so much more than just academics. What really sets us apart is the level of pastoral support we provide. Every student has a dedicated Community Tutor who goes out to their safe spaces to get to know and support them individually. This means support is tailored, accessible and inclusive so no one feels left behind.
We’ve also created BravEd, our personal development programme, to support students’ mental health, wellbeing, and life skills. It covers everything from PSHE and RSE to emotional resilience, digital safety, and confidence-building. BravEd is built around six key pillars:
B – Belonging and Kindness
R – Resilience and Self-regulation
A – Agency and Purpose
V – Voice
E – Empathy and Integrity
D – Digital Wisdom
Through BravEd and our one-to-one support, students develop the confidence, resilience, and coping strategies they need to thrive – not just in school, but in life beyond education.
At the same time, we make sure every student has the opportunity to achieve nationally recognised qualifications and gain essential life skills. This combination of personalised learning and pastoral care is what allows students to truly re-engage with education and regain the confidence to move forward with their lives.
What impact has the programme had so far?
Since launching in January 2024, the progress we’ve seen from our students has been incredible!
During the 2024/25 academic year, our Community team worked closely with 48 students, providing tailored learning plans and pastoral support. As a result, three students successfully reintegrated into mainstream education, while six students transitioned into Progress Schools. Sixteen students completed their Key Stage 4 studies, and nineteen achieved their GCSEs.
Additionally, six students completed Functional Skills qualifications, marking significant progress for each of them. For many of these students, these achievements came after long periods of being out of education.
Have there been any standout moments?
One of the most exciting moments was when our students took part in the CENTURY Spring Challenge and achieved fifth place globally.
It was an incredible achievement and really boosted students’ confidence. It showed them that they are just as capable as anyone else when they’re given the right tools and support.
By the end of the year, our learners had answered over 26,500 questions and completed almost 3,000 learning nuggets on the platform.
What’s particularly encouraging is that our students exceeded expected nugget completion rates 73% of the time compared to national averages.
What destinations are students progressing to?
The destinations our Year 11 students have secured really highlight the impact of the programme. Some students have progressed into Level 2 Engineering and electrician pathways, while others have moved into Hair and Beauty courses, healthcare roles, Parks and Countryside apprenticeships, or continued studying Functional Maths and English, just to name a few.
Across other year groups, we’ve seen three students successfully reintegrated into mainstream education and six students transition into Progress Schools. Each of these achievements is remarkable, especially considering many of these students previously had no engagement with education at all!
For many of these young people, those opportunities once felt completely out of reach so it’s incredible to see how Progress Community has helped open these doors for them.
How involved are the young people’s families?
Families and carers are central to everything we do at Progress Community. We work really closely with them because having a united approach is so important when helping young people overcome barriers to education. Their support, and their trust in the programme, makes a huge difference to how well students engage and succeed.
We’ve had some incredible feedback from parents and carers, which really highlights why this approach matters.
Hearing feedback like “Our community tutor has been a godsend. She is so lovely, patient, caring and understanding. My child can learn from home, which was always a struggle before.”
Is just incredible and we’ve had another parent tell us that “My child’s community tutor took the time to listen and really understand him. She supported his GCSEs and college application, and he feels comfortable knowing he isn’t judged. She is a credit to the team.”
These kinds of relationships, between teachers, students, and families, are at the very heart of Progress Community. It’s not just about schoolwork; it’s about building trust, confidence, and a real support system that helps young people thrive both academically and personally.
What’s next for Progress Community?
This past year has shown just how powerful this model can be. We’re incredibly proud of the progress students have made so far, but this is only the beginning. As the programme continues to grow, we’re exploring ways it could expand further, including the potential to develop a fully online school model in the future.
Ultimately, Progress Community is about giving young people the chance to start again, rebuild their confidence and move forward with their education and their lives. Looking ahead, the possibilities for our learners truly are endless!
