Masefield Primary School
From attainment struggles to top 3% in the country
Masefield Primary School introduced Thrive to better understand and support pupils’ social and emotional needs. By embedding the Approach across school life, the team has helped children build confidence, improve wellbeing and develop the foundations they need to learn.
Masefield is now in the top 3% in the country for reading, writing and maths, and was congratulated by the Minister for Schools for its outstanding results.
The Context
Masefield introduced Thrive after grappling with academic achievement, low-level disruptive behaviour and an increasing number of children struggling socially and emotionally.
- Location: Bolton
- Trust: Base Academy Trust
- Pupils: 257 (ages 3–11)
- FSM: 21.7%
- Thrive introduced: 2021
- Licensed Practitioners: 2
Why Thrive?
Masefield wanted to understand why some children weren't making the progress they were capable of.
The school already had strong teaching in place, but staff could see that, for some pupils, the barriers were social and emotional rather than academic.
Thrive gave the team a way to understand those needs more clearly, identify children who needed support and help pupils develop the emotional foundations they needed to learn.
embedding a whole school approach
How Thrive was implemented
Introducing Thrive was initially met with some scepticism. Staff had limited understanding of the Approach and were concerned it might create extra work for teachers.
Rather than treating Thrive as an add-on, Masefield built it into everyday school life.
- Policies were rewritten to reflect the Approach.
- Two Thrive Licensed Practitioners were trained and all staff, including the leadership team, were trained in Thrive theory and practice.
- The school introduced half-termly coffee mornings with families.
- A Course Leader for Family Thrive was trained to support work with parents and carers.
- All pupils’ social and emotional development needs are reviewed half-termly using behaviour and skills surveys in Thrive-Online. Following Thrive-Online assessments, support is delivered in The Nest, a dedicated space for one-to-one and group Thrive sessions.
We ensure all pupils receive an excellent education delivered by experts and Thrive supports us to ensure pupils have the foundations to learn.
Andy Done
Head of School, Masefield Primary School
A CULTURE WHERE CHILDREN CAN FLOURISH
From emotional confidence to academic success
Masefield is now oversubscribed and has seen a clear shift in school culture.
Pupils are happy and confident, developing their emotional intelligence and learning how to understand and deal with their feelings. They also know that, when things feel too much, there is a supportive adult available to help.
This has had a wider impact on attendance and learning outcomes. Masefield is in the top 3% in the country for reading, writing and maths, and received a letter of congratulations from Minister for Schools Damian Hinds in January 2024 for its outstanding results.
Arthur’s story
Arthur’s experience shows how Thrive can change the way a child sees themselves and their place in school.
Following a Thrive-Online assessment and work with a Thrive Licensed Practitioner, staff identified that Arthur was struggling to manage his emotions. Regular outbursts and limited communication skills meant he had few friends and often fought with his brother at home.
Arthur felt like an outsider. His attendance, attainment and progress were low, and his self-esteem was at rock bottom. He felt worthless and did not think he could achieve anything.
Once staff understood what Arthur needed, they put a plan in place. He had daily check-ins with a Thrive Licensed Practitioner and group sessions twice a week, including one session with his brother.
Those sessions proved life-changing. Arthur is now much happier, able to engage with learning and his peers, and his attendance, attainment and progress have vastly improved.
A happy child is a happier family
Working with families
In a recent parent survey, 100% of parents said they would recommend Masefield to other families. Parents also said they feel more confident speaking to school staff if they are worried about their children.
One parent described the incredible difference Thrive has made to her son.
“Thrive has become an extremely welcome and important part of Bobby’s week at school and is definitely one of his favourite things to do. We believe that it has helped him massively and couldn’t imagine it not being a part of Bobby’s school week.”
Our impact speaks for itself
Recognition
Masefield Primary School has been awarded Thrive School of Excellence, the highest level in Thrive’s Ambassador School scheme, recognising its work in supporting mental health and wellbeing.
We feel extremely proud to be given this award. It has made a positive difference to pupils at Masefield and given them tools to support them not just now, but for the rest of their lives.
Andy Done
Head of School, Masefield Primary School
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