Partners

St Helen and St Katharine’s partnerships demonstrate all the positive ways in which we contribute to and engage with our wider community. Our relationships with local schools and community groups are based on open dialogue so that we can develop work together as partners. In this way the partnerships aim to be true collaborations in which inspiration and learning flows both ways. By giving their time and working with others towards a common goal, students develop an appreciation of the part they can play in society.

Our partnership work is a continually developing programme as we build new ways to interact with the local community through multiple streams, encompassing academia, creative arts, well-being, sport, higher education and careers, and charity partnership.

OX14 Learning Partnership

We are proud to be part of the OX14 Learning Partnership together with Fitzharrys School, John Mason School, Larkmead School, Radley College and Abingdon School. The partnership is a collaboration between this group of six maintained and independent sector schools with the aim of raising aspiration across OX14 by providing opportunities for students and staff to be challenged, inspired and to learn from each other. The partnership is driven by staff members at each school who act as Partnership Champions as well as by an active Student Voice Committee; making the venture a true collaboration between students and staff from across the schools.

The learning partnership works together on a myriad of different projects and opportunities. Highlights include:

Peer Support Leads

This programme is designed to share good practice and training for Sixth Form students to become mentors in their schools. It provides the opportunity for students from all year groups across our group of schools to have access to peers who are trained and passionate about supporting students through any challenge, enhancing the mental health framework of each school. The programme has already shown itself to be impactful for those students who seek mentoring as well as being an important leadership development opportunity for Sixth Form students.

Academic Coaching

Coaching is a valuable and important tool that helps unlock an individual’s potential and maximise performance through the coach/ coachee dialogue. Sixth Form students from across the six schools attend training sessions where they are introduced to the GROW coaching model which provides a scaffold on which effective coaching conversations can be based. It provides structure to enable a conversation to progress towards clear actions and outcomes. The programme has already led to older students coaching younger students as well as each other on personal goals such as avoiding procrastination, keeping calm in exams and working to tight deadlines. Offering this support to each other and to younger students from another school setting helps the coaches develop skills of teamwork, communication and listening.

Oxbridge Club

Starting in Year 11, students from across the partnership meet regularly to find out more about applying to Oxford and Cambridge universities. Sessions focus on developing the critical thinking skills that are essential for interview success as well as getting advice from current Oxbridge undergraduate students.

Partnership with The Iffley Academy

We are fortunate to work in partnership with The Iffley Academy, a community special academy for children and young people up to the age of 18 with complex special educational needs and disabilities. Recent and upcoming projects include a sports photography workshop for their students and psychology students from St Helen’s working together with students from the Academy to develop a school council there. We have an ongoing agreement for reciprocal work experience between the schools this year it’s been a pleasure to host two students who were keen to gain experience in grounds maintenance and gardening and we look forward to the Academy hosting some of our aspiring veterinary students in their small animal unit.

Other partnerships

We also engage in a range of partnership activities outside of the OX14 Learning Partnership, such as:

Big Band at Dorchester Abbey

Sports partnerships

Our PE department offers many opportunities which bring together St Helen’s students with students from other local primary and secondary schools. Activities include futsal tournaments, introductions to lacrosse, invitational cross-country races, indoor athletics, indoor cricket competitions, netball tournaments, swimming galas and free use of our facilities.

Community service

Community service is a year-long commitment of a double lesson once a week in the first year of Sixth Form and can be recognised for the service section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It is an opportunity for the students to work directly with people in the local community and over the years St Helen’s has forged long-standing links with various associations and schools in Abingdon. For example, students may dedicate time to help at local primary and secondary schools, SEN schools and care homes.