The Trust commissions an evaluation to look at the impact of the Service Pupil Support Programme
The Trust is pleased to announce that, following a competitive selection process, we’ve commissioned Alma Economics as evaluators of the Service Pupil Support Programme (SPSP).
Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund, the Service Pupil Support Programme (SPSP) is designed to meet the needs of children aged 4-18 years in full-time statutory education, who are from currently serving Armed Forces families. The programme provides funding for projects that support Service children throughout their educational journey, enabling them to meet their full potential.
Evaluating programme impact
Alma Economics has been awarded the contract to evaluate SPSP over the next two years. Their expertise will help us gain valuable insights into the programme’s outcomes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
This evaluation will assess the effectiveness and impact of the programme, which has been instrumental in supporting the Service children within our community. Measuring the impact of this programme is vital, helping us learn what works, and what could be improved in ongoing and future delivery programmes.
Aims of the Service Pupil Support Programme
The SPSP focuses on pupils from currently serving families, supporting them along their educational pathways. Schools, academies sixth form colleges, Further Education colleges and local authorities could apply to fund projects which focused on at least one of the key themes of:
- Closing the gap in attainment between Service and non-Service pupils.
- Addressing the needs of Service pupils with additional needs.
- Identifying and addressing the needs of small cohorts of Service pupils within educational settings.
The funded projects
The first round of the SPSP awarded almost £1.8 million to 46 projects in July 2023, with two deferred awards of £106,648 made in October 2023. The second round supported a further 21 projects in July 2024 with just over £1.3 million awarded. These fantastic projects are now making a real difference to school-aged Service children across the UK – improving their educational pathways and helping to address the challenges they can face.
Emotional and social support
In March 2023, Harwell Community Primary School, as part of a cluster of six other primary schools in Didcot, Oxfordshire and the surrounding villages, received a grant of £44,188 to fund the employment of an experienced staff member to provide emotional and social support for Service children. This support was tailored to each child’s needs using established therapeutic methods, with a particular focus on those transitioning between different educational settings. The project also created opportunities for Service children to connect with one another, share experiences, and build new friendships.
The project revealed that Service children benefit from talking to someone who understands their challenges. Friendly faces and support systems help them build new friendships and adapt to new environments. These connections boost their well-being and resilience during transitions. Key insights were shared with schools to improve understanding and support for Service children, creating more inclusive environments.
Nurturing unique gifts and talents
Fordham CofE Primary School received £61,000 for their ‘Enabling the Gifts and Talents’ project, which focused on recognising Service pupils’ unique abilities but also included activities designed to enhance their potential and support their social and emotional well-being.
Each Service child participated in weekly sessions in small groups with a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) to help them cope with the impact of frequent school moves and parental deployments. Support was focused on both academic achievement and emotional wellbeing, with opportunities to further develop their gifts and talents through extra support and participation in a range of clubs and activities. The children responded positively to these interventions, particularly valuing the chance to share their feelings with peers who understood their experiences.
Deborah Rankin, Headteacher said: “The biggest impact the project has achieved has been around creating a community of similar backgrounds both for the pupils and parents alike. The pupils have benefitted hugely with developing friendships with other pupils from Service families both pastorally, in academic small groups and through clubs.”
You can read the full case study in full in our Knowledge Network here.
Nick Spyropoulos, Managing Director of Alma Economics, said: “We are delighted to be taking on the important work of evaluating the Service Pupil Support Programme. Our mixed-methods approach will combine analysis of relevant data together with qualitative insights from engagement with Service families and the schools and organisations receiving funding through the programme. This will allow us to evaluate the programme’s impact and determine what is working well, as well as where there is room for improvement, drawing on the experiences of those involved. Our independent analysis will help ensure that ongoing and future delivery of the programme will be optimised to best meet the needs of Armed Forces families.”
Find out more
We look forward to sharing the progress of this evaluation and insights from the funded projects over the next two years.
Learn more about Alma Economics on their website here.
Learn more about the programme and see a full list of the funded projects here.