Empowering Independent Learners: How Macmillan Academy Uses Up Learn for A Level Success

About the School

Macmillan Academy, part of Endeavour Academies Trust, is a large secondary school and sixth form based in Middlesbrough. With a strong focus on academic success, pastoral care, and personal development, Macmillan prepares students to thrive in further education and beyond. The school places particular emphasis on creating independent learners who are capable, motivated, and resilient.
Jonny Foster plays a key role at Macmillan Academy, teaching A Level Physics, GCSE Science, and GCSE Maths, all whilst currently acting as temporary Head of Year 7. He leads on Up Learn usage for the Physics department.

Versatile Integration Across the Curriculum

Macmillan sixth form has integrated Up Learn in a number of ways throughout the school year. Most notably, the platform is embedded into the scheme of work for A Level Physics, with Up Learn links provided alongside each new topic.

“It’s become part of our lesson planning. Students always have the option to go and consolidate with Up Learn, whether I’ve set it as homework or not.”

Assignments are set via the platform, and it’s also used diagnostically – students scoring below a certain grade in tests are assigned specific Up Learn sections to revisit and master.

Supporting Independent Learning

For Jonny and his team, Up Learn’s greatest value is how it supports and encourages independent learning – something Macmillan is always actively working to instil.

“We’ve really pushed independent study this year. Students pre-watch Up Learn videos before lessons and complete a sheet summarising what they’ve learned. It means we can spend lesson time answering their questions and doing exam practice.”

This flipped learning model helps students develop self-discipline and prepares them for the demands of university-level study.

Why It Works for Students

Up Learn provides Macmillan students with a learning format that resonates, which is particularly important when tackling a demanding subject like A Level Physics and Chemistry. The STEM subjects are notoriously difficult, so Macmillan uses Up Learn as a key resource to give students both simple explanations and challenging exam-level questions.

“The videos are absolutely brilliant – really clear. It simplifies hard concepts, challenges them in a similar way a real exam question would, and tests their understanding. That’s the beauty of Up Learn.”

Why It Works for Teachers

For teachers, Up Learn is a reliable and flexible tool. Jonny sets it for pre-reading, homework, intervention, and revision. It helps ensure curriculum coverage and allows him to track progress on the teacher dashboard feature that launched this academic year.

“As a teacher, it’s brilliant for me to be able to use Up Learn in multiple different ways. Over time, improvements have definitely been made to the assignment tracking and it’s a lot more manageable when setting tasks – I know I can just go in and see everything.”

Up Learn also helps when staff capacity is stretched – Jonny has found it useful as a fallback resource when no subject specialists are available.

Benefits for Schools

• Scalable support: Can be used flexibly across year groups and staff with varying experience.
• Structured independent learning: Perfect for flipped classrooms and revision.
• Diagnostic power: Supports targeted interventions with data and assignments.
• Curriculum assurance: Helps staff feel confident they’ve covered everything.

Benefits for Students

• Challenging content: Students practise at exam standard from day one.
• Clarity: Concepts are explained in a way students understand.
• On-demand access: Learning continues outside the classroom.
• Confidence: Students feel in control of their learning journey.

Advice for Parents and Students

Jonny’s advice for parents is simple: stay involved.

“Just check in. Not in a nagging way, but know what’s been set, ask about their workload, and make sure there’s a quiet space for study.”

And for students?

Jonny’s advice for parents is simple: stay involved.

“Do the pre-reading. Use Up Learn before the lesson so you can focus on understanding and applying what you’ve learned. Then practise, practise, practise those exam questions. That’s what makes the difference in Physics.”

Final Thoughts

“Would I have loved something like Up Learn back when I was studying? 100%. I struggled reading from plain, black and white textbooks, so to have had Up Learn with the videos, the visuals, the interactive questions – it’s definitely something I wish I’d had.”

At Macmillan Academy, Up Learn is more than just a resource – it’s a part of their sixth form learning culture, helping both students and staff experience an optimal environment for success. 

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