“The 1decision team really understand our context and setting."
How Wave Multi Academy Trust is enhancing primary PSHE across its alternative provision academies.
About Wave Multi Academy Trust
Wave Multi Academy Trust comprises eight regional alternative provision academies, two medical alternative provision academies in Devon and Cornwall, and a special academy in Devon for pupils with social communication and interaction needs.
The Trust provides support to enable pupils to reintegrate into mainstream or special schools; or, in the last four terms of compulsory education, to integrate into the world of work or further education. Alternative provision academies provide education for mainstream pupils who are not able to access mainstream provision due to medical and health needs and those who have been permanently excluded, are at risk of permanent exclusion, or are on an intervention basis.
Wave uses 1decision in all regional alternative provision academies with primary-aged pupils.
A Curriculum to Support Social, Emotional and Educational Development
Wave is committed to quality teaching, meeting pupils’ emotional and social needs, and ensuring all pupils are kept safe and know how to keep themselves safe. Every qualified teacher in the Trust is expected to teach as part of this commitment. In particular, it aims to:
- Provide a balanced and broad curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
- Give access to the National Curriculum; provide opportunities for external accreditation; and, for those pupils with specific learning difficulties, offer effective and personalised programmes.
- Ensure all pupils are supported to develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others—promoting emotional wellbeing and self-esteem; helping pupils to recognise their potential and work positively within their community. The Trust respects all pupils and encourages them to become active participants in their own learning, develop confidence, independence and self-esteem, and express their needs and desires.
- Seek effective and positive working relationships with pupils’ families, schools and other agencies.
- Enable effective outcomes for its pupils.
Before using 1decision for primary-only PSHE education, schools followed an approach from the PSHE Association and a mapped curriculum.
Embracing 1decision to Support Teachers’ Planning and Pupil Progress
In September 2023, after piloting first in Penwith Academy (Penzance) and North Cornwall Academy (Bodmin), the decision was made by the Trust to roll out 1decision to all primary AP settings. This now includes Caradon Academy (Liskeard), Stansfield Academy (Exeter), The Shoreline (Barnstaple) and Nine Maidens Academy (Redruth).
“1decision supported our resourcing, and with our team, we felt this was a strong match that built strong foundations and would support expertise and teachers’ planning,” explained Lucy Holloway, Director of Education. “We also selected 1decision because it built on our work in mapping the PSHE curriculum and the PSHE Association bridging into Key Stage 3; it was recommended in some of our feeder schools; we knew the planning and real-life videos would suit our pupils well; and with a focus on high-quality PSHE primary curriculum that matched our Trust values.”
What Pupils and Teachers Gain
“Pupils really enjoy the scenarios in the 1decision videos. They are able to have empathy for the characters, and it gives them opportunities to put themselves in the shoes of others and consider viewpoints really well. In all of our alternative provisions, we have small class numbers who enjoy the discursive element with 1decision.”
“For teachers, the resources are very adaptable in terms of ages and stages of pupils, and all in all they are really easy to deliver for staff. They are especially good for developing oracy skills and social, emotional and mental health needs, supporting empathy and acceptance in line with our Trust values. We do a lot of teaching around risk-taking behaviours and safety as relevant for our alternative provision pupils.”
“1decision Understands Our Context”: Empowering Children, Evidencing Impact
The Trust pointed to a number of evidence points that highlight the impact of 1decision, including the development of tracking systems to support teachers’ planning and understand progress over time, Ofsted and external school improvement plan validation, pupil engagement and positive pupil voice.
“The 1decision team really understand our context and setting, and in terms of support the webinars are particularly useful. I would recommend 1decision as a MAT-wide resource for PSHE/personal development education: the ease of use, sharing of resources, and pupil voice”.
“It has been wonderful to see the 1decision curriculum in action in our Trust academies and the impact upon our pupils of a high-quality discussion-based approach to the teaching of PSHE that empowers and challenges them to think, talk and reflect. The scheme links forward with our Trust secondary PSHE curriculum and it is wonderful to see how this has supported the high-quality PSHE curriculum across our Trust and teacher confidence. We now look forward to working with 1decision to ensure we are compliant with the updated statutory RSHE guidelines, and supporting priorities around AI and online safety, making sure this meets our pupils’ needs.”
In Summary
Wave Multi Academy Trust’s adoption of 1decision has strengthened the consistency and quality of PSHE across its primary alternative provision settings. With adaptable resources, real-life video scenarios, and robust tracking, 1decision is helping teachers plan effectively while enabling pupils to build empathy, communication and decision-making skills - all aligned with the Trust’s values and long-term vision.
