Abingdon School in Partnership - Primary School Partnerships

Abingdon School is working with local primary school colleagues to diversify and develop a strategic plan for partnerships. 

Aims

Abingdon school aims to work with the wider community on mutually beneficial and impactful projects and activities. Students in primary schools benefit greatly from a wider offering of opportunities and experiences and students at Abingdon School can develop valuable leadership and communication skills by working with younger children. It is important to ensure activities work with and enhance existing curriculum requirements and that logistics don't create a barrier to schools joining in. 

Discussion and collaboration with primary school colleagues is vital to ensure activities are relevant and have the required impact. 

Background

Dialogue with colleagues in local Primary Schools highlighted the need to provide opportunities for all students to mix with the wider community and share experiences they may otherwise not have. It was identified that students at Abingdon School could benefit from volunteering opportunities with younger children as well as primary school pupils benefitting from the experiences provided. 

Resources

Time is the key resource for any primary partnership activity. Teaching staff on the partnership committee have dedicated time to spend on developing projects and activities. The non teaching Partnership Coordinator helps facilitate activities. 

Activities, such as a chess club, may require a small budget for resources. 

School facilities may be used, for example the sports pitch or Science Lab. 

Impact

Students who attend or take part in a primary partnership activity are asked to complete a feedback form. This is a very simple form providing information such as a rating or whether they would recommend it to a friend. 

Pupil Involvement

Primary activities have mostly involved students in Key stage two, 7-11 year olds. Students from Abingdon School involved with activities are usually Key stage 4 or 5. 

Frequency

Stand alone Primary School events happen around twice a term and include; Topic morning, Festival of languages, Primary business Challenge, Book events and sporting events. A weekly chess club has been set up and a nurture group will start later this term. Sports coaching with student assistants takes place in a block of a few weeks at various points throughout the year. We are in regular discussion with local schools and look forward to developing our relationships and and creating a broad range of partnership activities.