10 years of progress

Last month, Progress Schools celebrated the incredible 10-year milestone – 10 years of making a difference!

And what better way to honour it than with a party? Not just one party, but 13, taking place across each of our Progress Schools sites. The students and staff gathered with sweet treats to mark the occasion. Inviting along parents, carers and external partners who have supported our students’ journeys over the years.

As part of the celebrations, students at each school created special pieces of work, from artwork to poetry and more, to add to a Progress Schools time capsule. Once all of the contributions have been collected, they will be combined and stored in a central location… so stay tuned for more news on this exciting project!

We were blown away by the creativity on display across our schools, with each location adding their own unique touch to the celebrations. From Progress Schools Carlisle adapting the nativity story to instead detail the birth of Progress Schools and journey over the past decade, to Progress Schools Stockport writing and producing an original song, making an anthem of progress, ‘Best is yet to come’!

A huge congratulations to our incredible staff and students. None of this would have been possible without your hard work, passion and dedication.

Over the years, we’ve grown in ways we could only have dreamed of. Our team has expanded by 170%, allowing us to provide even more specialist support, and the number of schools and locations we work with has increased by 160% – a true reflection of the trust and belief in what we do. Most importantly, more than 70% of our Year 11 leavers go on to a sustained positive destination each year, and to date, this year we’ve reached an outstanding 78%.

Another major step forward came in summer 2024, when we expanded our GCSE offer to include other core subjects and became a registered exam centre. With learners sitting over 600 exams, this milestone has opened up new pathways and greater opportunities for the young people we support. With results like these, it’s clear the future of our students is bright!

Charlotte Barton, Divisional CEO of Progress Education, said:

“It’s been an incredible journey from where we started to where we are today. Growing to 13 sites and supporting around 1,600 young people over these past 10 years is something I’m incredibly proud of. I want to thank all of our colleagues and students for their dedication and passion, without whom none of this would be possible! With too many wins to name, from becoming a registered GCSE exam centre last year, to our expansion into what is now Progress Education, our newly launched education arm of The Progress Group. This is all a true testament to everyone’s hard work, commitment and belief in our vision. I couldn’t be prouder or more grateful for our incredible team and young people. Here’s to the next 10 years of Progress!”