At The Online School UK, our goal is to support each student’s journey from feeling shy and anxious to feeling safe, calm, and confident. While academic results are one way to measure progress, we place significant emphasis on the emotional and behavioral growth of our students. This policy outlines the non-academic indicators we use to assess and celebrate each student’s personal development.

1.  Growth Indicators

We measure student growth through various behavioral and emotional indicators that reflect increased comfort, confidence, and engagement in the school environment. These indicators include, but are not limited to:

• Improved Attendance: Increased attendance is an indicator that the student feels safer and more engaged in lessons.
• Mood Reflections in Voting Boxes: Positive changes in the student’s reported mood during lesson voting can show progress in feeling more comfortable.
• Increased Public and Private Chat Use: A student who begins to use the chat functions more frequently is demonstrating a willingness to engage with their peers and teachers, signaling growing confidence.
• Poll Completion: Consistent completion of polls shows the student is becoming more comfortable participating in lessons.
• Homework Completion: While homework is not mandatory, a student’s increased willingness to complete and submit homework indicates a growth in confidence and self-management.
• Meet-Up Attendance: Participation in optional meet-ups, either online or in person, shows a desire to engage more socially with peers.
• Participation in the Buddy Scheme: Students who volunteer for or engage with the buddy scheme demonstrate increased social confidence and a willingness to help.
• Earning Gold Stars: Recognizing positive behavior and contributions through gold stars encourages students to feel proud of their progress and achievements.

2.  Supporting Emotional Growth

Our approach to supporting students’ emotional growth is embedded throughout all of our activities and interactions. We focus on creating an environment that is:

• Safe: Ensuring students feel protected and comfortable, reducing feelings of
• Calm: Encouraging a relaxed, non-pressurized atmosphere in which students can learn and grow at their own pace.
• Confident: Helping students build confidence in themselves, their abilities, and their interactions with others.

3.  Encouraging Growth Without Pressure

While we provide gentle encouragement for students to participate in various activities (e.g., public chat, polls, meet-ups), we understand that each student grows at their own pace. Our role is to support this process without applying unnecessary pressure. Each student’s journey is unique, and growth is measured in many different ways.

4.  Parental Involvement and Reporting

Parents are encouraged to support their child’s emotional growth by acknowledging and celebrating non-academic achievements. While we track these indicators internally, parents will receive periodic updates on their child’s emotional and behavioral progress, highlighting improvements in confidence, participation, and overall well-being.

We remind parents that the emotional journey is as important as academic results, and progress may not always be reflected in traditional academic measures. If a child is making strides in feeling more safe, calm, and confident, that is a significant achievement in its own right.

5.  Growth Over Time

We understand that emotional growth can be gradual. The goal is not to push students but to create an environment where they feel empowered to explore their own potential at a pace that suits them. As we track their journey over time, we celebrate every step toward a more confident, calm, and connected self.

By emphasizing these emotional and behavioral growth indicators, we aim to provide a holistic approach to student development, ensuring that each student feels supported not only academically but emotionally.