Improving Student Outcomes in Alternative Provision: How EBN Academy Personalises Learning with CENTURY

EBN Academy is an alternative provision based in Yardley, Birmingham, dedicated to supporting students in Years 9 to 11 who have been excluded from mainstream education. You can learn more about their specialist approach on their website here.

What initial challenges prompted EBN Academy to seek an AI-powered learning solution?

Our primary challenge involved addressing the significant gaps in knowledge that students often have when they arrive at our setting. Many of our learners have previously been non-attenders or have moved between multiple providers, meaning they have not followed a consistent curriculum. We needed a robust method to identify these gaps during our induction process so we could build an appropriate curriculum tailored to each student’s specific starting point. Additionally, a previous Ofsted report highlighted the need for us to do more to address individual starting points, and CENTURY provided the software required to encapsulate where those needs are and inform staff planning.

How has the platform been implemented to support your curriculum delivery?

We have moved towards a model where students log in for one dedicated CENTURY lesson per week. This is particularly valuable for our core subjects, such as English and Science, where we want students to achieve their GCSEs. The platform allows students to work at their own pace on missed topics from previous schools, providing a different sensory experience through computer-based learning. We are also developing the structure of these lessons to include retrieval practice at the start and a learning review at the end to ensure students are reflecting on the progress they make within their ‘nuggets’.

In what ways has CENTURY helped to reduce teacher workload and support non-specialist staff?

The platform is a significant asset in the current climate where we may not always have a full complement of subject specialists available for every lesson. The didactic and interactive learning material ensures that students receive high-quality, level-appropriate instruction even when a subject specialist is not delivering the lesson. Furthermore, CENTURY’s automated analysis is very user-friendly; we can see exactly how long a student has spent on a task, which helps us identify if they are rushing or truly engaging with the work without teachers having to manually track every minute of digital activity.

How have you successfully engaged students and parents with the platform?

The introduction to students has been very positive because the lessons are clearly structured on their timetables. We use dual-coded letters for new starters to explain what CENTURY is, which has helped with clarity. We also hold one-to-one meetings involving the student, parent, and teacher to discuss the benefits of the platform. We have found that as Year 11 students approach their GCSEs, parents are increasingly proactive, often requesting login details so they can ensure their children are completing additional revision at home.

What specific benefits have you observed regarding student independence and mindset?

CENTURY nurtures a sense of independence that is often difficult to achieve with highly scaffolded traditional lessons. It allows students to take ownership of their learning, and we have seen that those who want to be successful can thrive by moving through the content at their own speed. By providing instant feedback and a clear path for improvement, the platform helps to foster a positive mindset, which is crucial for students in an alternative provision setting.

What advice would you give to other alternative provision providers considering CENTURY?

I would highly recommend CENTURY because it is specifically designed to handle differing gaps in knowledge, which is a constant challenge in AP settings. While the initial implementation requires time for staff to familiarise themselves with the system, the long-term benefits for student engagement are clear. Key benefits include:

• Personalised Induction: Using baseline assessments to immediately identify student needs upon arrival.
• Targeted Gap Filling: Addressing individual weaknesses that a teacher might not have time to cover in a standard group lesson.
• Sophisticated Data: Accessing thorough and intelligent software that provides more than just surface-level insights.

Book a demo to see how CENTURY can transform teaching and learning at your institution.

To learn more or get support, contact your Account Manager or email support@century.tech.