Live small-group teaching
Specialist online teachers. Small virtual groups so every student has more teacher time and clearer progress evidence.
Curriculum partnership
Online learning that matches ability and builds evidence of progress
Purple Ruler is our curriculum and intervention delivery partner for live online English, Maths and Science. Evolution Education remains responsible for safeguarding, placements, attendance culture and Independent School leadership.
Partnership
Two accountable teams, one clear split
Purple Ruler delivers live teaching, assessment pathways and progress reports. Evolution Education oversees safeguarding accountability, quality of experience, attendance and engagement, work with parents and local authorities, and strategic review of whether interventions are working.
That split strengthens the inspection and commissioning story: delivery is specialism-led, while the Independent School framework and duty of care stay with Evolution Education leadership.
Purple Ruler is Ofsted-accredited for online education (DfE URN 152279). Evolution Education holds operational oversight of students placed with us.
What students get
English, Maths and Science shaped to ability
Placement assessment decides the right route so students are neither overwhelmed nor under-challenged.
Ability pathways
Functional Skills or GCSE routes are set by assessment, with honest mid-year review so students can step up or step across when the data supports it.
English
GCSE English Language and Literature (AQA) or Functional Skills English, with pre- and post-topic checks so teachers pitch work correctly.
Maths
GCSE Maths (Edexcel) or Functional Skills Maths, drawn from a large academy question bank and tracked topic by topic.
Science
On the GCSE route, Science sits with English and Maths so the offer is a genuine three-subject programme. Applied Science pathways support breadth and readiness.
Extra support when needed
Intensive 1:1 intervention and wider hours can be added for students who need catch-up, or who are building engagement from a lean starting timetable.
Pathways
Two clean Academy routes for outreach and remote places
The entry assessment sets the starting route. The offer can grow with engagement.
Functional Skills route: English and Maths, with regular hours each week and a clear focus on secure skills.
GCSE route: English, Maths and Science together. Science is not optional on this pathway because it keeps the offer balanced and credible for secondary qualifications.
Optional broadeners (such as PSHE and careers content, electives or therapy) can sit on top when attendance and engagement show a student can take more.
On our on-site alternative provision work, English and Maths sit in small groups with strong assessment; extra 1:1 is added when a child needs it.
Assessment
How we know the right level and measure progress
Assessment is built into the cycle so teachers, leaders and commissioners can see what has improved.
Adaptive placement test on entry
A short adaptive test produces an ability band and a strengths-and-gaps map. It places the student on Functional Skills or GCSE so the start feels fair.
Pre-topic check
Before each unit, a short test shows what the group already knows so the lesson is pitched correctly.
Post-topic check
The same questions after teaching measure gain. Students who need catch-up are flagged for 1:1 intervention.
Half-term checkpoints
Every half term includes progress review and narrative reporting. Mid-year, students can re-test between Functional Skills and GCSE pathways where evidence supports it.
End-of-year story
Progress is compared with the opening baseline so leaders can see sustained change, not only short spikes.
Live dashboard
Attendance, pathway and progress data are visible for school leadership and commissioning reviews. Formal safeguarding records remain on Evolution Education systems.
Year shape
What inspectors and parents can expect across the year
Autumn: placement tests, first pathway decisions, unit teaching with pre- and post-topic checks, first half-termly progress report.
Spring: mid-year pathway review (test up or step across), continued units, further half-termly reports, exam consolidation for Year 11 where relevant.
Summer: exam readiness for upper secondary, continued assessments for younger groups, end-of-year progress against baseline and summer handover.
Short-term KS3 respite learners take baseline on entry and exit assessment before reintegration so a short placement still has a clear progress story.
Inspection readiness
How this supports Independent School Standards (Quality of Education)
The offer is designed to give intent, implementation and impact evidence that leadership can monitor and challenge.
Curriculum intent
Written intent and sequencing rationale per subject, adapted for learners who have had disrupted education.
Structure and sequencing
Schemes of work and long- and medium-term maps, starting with core academic English and Maths and expanding as the programme widens.
Progression
Clear stages from emerging to developing to secure, including literacy and numeracy skill ladders.
Assessment and impact
Baselines, formative and summative checks, topic gain measures, half-termly narrative reports and leadership oversight data.
Breadth and balance
English, Maths and Science at the core of the GCSE pathway; further subjects and personal development can be added as engagement grows or as Independent School registration expands the offer.
Leadership and safeguarding line
Purple Ruler teaching is quality-assured against a clear teaching rubric with safeguarding escalation into their designated lead. Evolution Education remains accountable for student welfare and overall provision oversight.
What stays with us
Evolution Education’s role
We monitor whether online learning is the right intervention for each young person. We own the relationship with parents, carers, schools and local authorities. We keep the relational, sport-specialist culture of our centres. We review impact and decide when to continue, broaden, step down or change approach.
Online lessons never replace our duty to keep students safe and known well. Detailed safeguarding concerns are always recorded and acted on through our approved systems and Designated Safeguarding Lead arrangements.
Related pages
Explore more of learning at Evolution
Curriculum overview
Intent, pathways and how learning fits together.
Curriculum intent
What we want every learner to achieve.
Teaching, learning and assessment
How we teach and check progress.
English
Our subject approach to English.
Mathematics
Our subject approach to mathematics.
Science
Our subject approach to science.
Admissions
How places are arranged with schools and local authorities.
For schools and local authorities
Discuss curriculum partnership and places
Places are arranged through schools and local authorities. Contact our team to discuss pathways, reporting and how Purple Ruler sits within Evolution Education oversight.
