How we encourage student participation at Academy21
For many young people in alternative provision, the idea of speaking up in class or even logging into a lesson can feel daunting. After difficult experiences in mainstream education, participation doesn’t always come easily. But at Academy21, we know that taking part is one of the first steps toward re-engagement and progress.
That’s why our online classrooms are designed to make participation feel safe, supported, and achievable for every learner. In this post, we’ll explore how we encourage students to find their voice in a virtual setting, and why active engagement is so important to success in online alternative provision.
Why student participation matters
In online alternative provision, participation is more than just answering a question or joining a discussion; it’s a sign that a student is beginning to re-engage. For learners who’ve struggled in mainstream settings, that moment of interaction can mark a real step forward. Whether it’s speaking up in a live lesson, responding in the chat, or submitting work regularly, participation helps bring structure, routine, and a sense of progress to each day.
It also opens the door to support. Many students in AP are managing complex needs—from anxiety and health issues to long periods out of education. When they engage, it gives teachers the chance to check in, build trust, and step in early if something isn’t right. That’s why participation isn’t just about learning; it’s about connection, confidence, and making sure every student feels seen.
How Academy21 boosts student participation
1. Building safe, supportive spaces from day one
Many of our students come to us with a disrupted educational history. This often means they’ve had negative experiences with participation in the past, feeling unheard, anxious, or overlooked. That’s why our first priority is establishing an emotionally safe and inclusive environment.
Our teachers receive specialist training in trauma-informed practice and relational communication. From the first lesson, we focus on creating a culture of mutual respect, where students feel secure enough to ask questions, share ideas, or participate at their own pace. Whether through positive reinforcement or adaptive questioning, the goal is to reduce pressure and make participation feel like a natural step—not a high-stakes hurdle.
2. Personalised learning pathways
Student participation improves when learners feel that the content speaks to them. That’s why we take a highly personalised approach to planning, offering differentiated tasks, scaffolded materials, and targeted interventions.
We also leverage adaptive teaching and learning strategies based upon our teachers’ extensive training in quality-first inclusive teaching.
Diagnostic tools and learning analytics help them monitor engagement and adapt their strategies in real time. For example, if students are less confident speaking aloud, they may first contribute via the chat function or through interactive polls. Over time, we gently build up to more verbal or collaborative contributions.
This flexible participation model enables students to engage on their own terms, gradually developing the confidence and skills necessary to participate more actively.
3. Interactive and accessible technology
Our virtual classrooms are designed to go beyond simple video calls, and to actually mimic a physical classroom experience.
Using an intuitive platform tailored for online education, teachers incorporate whiteboards, live quizzes, breakout rooms, annotation tools, and multimedia resources to vary participation modes.
Features like real-time chat, hand-raising, emoji reactions, and individual feedback tools give students multiple avenues to engage, regardless of their communication style. As a result, 91% of our students feel confident enough to ask for help in lessons.
For students with SEN, assistive technology such as integration with speech to text features and alternative formats ensure that participation is never restricted by access barriers. In fact, 95% of our students feel our technology features help them to participate.
4. Recognising every contribution
We understand that participation looks different for every learner. While one student may thrive during a group discussion, another may feel most confident submitting a thoughtful comment via chat. Our teachers are trained to recognise and validate all forms of contribution, not just the most visible ones.
This nuanced understanding of engagement helps us celebrate progress authentically. A student who raises their hand for the first time in weeks receives as much encouragement as one who consistently leads discussion. Our feedback approach is immediate, constructive, and geared toward growth, so students always know their voice matters.
5. Fostering peer connection
Learning is social, even online. We deliberately build moments for peer interaction into every lesson—whether that’s through paired activities in breakout rooms, class debates, or collaborative quizzes.
These structured opportunities help reduce isolation and foster a sense of belonging. For many of our learners, this is their first experience of enjoying school-based relationships in a safe and productive way. We also offer pastoral check-ins and virtual common rooms, creating space for informal connections beyond the academic curriculum.
6. Listening to students – and responding
Perhaps most importantly, we involve students in shaping their own educational experience. We regularly collect feedback on how lessons feel, what helps them engage, and what they’d like more of. This might happen via anonymous polls, feedback forms, or one-to-one mentoring calls.
We take their responses seriously. Whether it’s adjusting lesson pace, changing the balance between whole-group and individual tasks, or introducing new digital tools, we show students that their input drives real change. That empowerment is a powerful motivator in itself, and 97% of our students agree to it, stating that their Academy21 support and encourage them in their learning.
A community that learns together
Through patience, personalisation, and a deep commitment to inclusivity, Academy21 helps students rediscover the joy of learning. Every hand raised, every idea shared, and every click in the chat reminds students that when they feel safe, supported, and seen, they engage; not because they have to, but because they want to. Participation is never forced. It’s earned through trust, and we work to build it every day.
If you want to learn more about how Academy21 can support your students, please reach out to our team below.
