The following areas have been identified as significant to the on-going improvement of Holland Park School and, subject to raising the required funding, these will be the areas the Trust will support in 2009-10.

Residential Courses

The Trust has funded a number of residential courses for students. Some of the most successful have included: raising achievement programmes in the English department; study trips in the UK and abroad; subject-based revision courses in English, maths and science for GCSE students. Over one hundred under-achieving students have attended GCSE revision courses in the past two years, with all students achieving their target grades or above.

We aim to expand opportunities for Sixth Formers with plans to fund places at A level conferences, courses and open-days at Russell Group universities.  We want to inspire Sixth Formers to aim high and have confidence in their expectations of success.

The Trust also supports the Duke of Edinburgh scheme which runs from Year 10, and funds the expeditions they undertake. Combining challenging physical activities with problem-solving situations, these expeditions provide opportunities for students to develop self-confidence, reliability and to succeed beyond the classroom.

Residential courses require £30,000 a year.

Student Councils
A programme of student leadership training with a specific emphasis on 'democracy and the student voice'  has been designed to re-energise the school's student councils. With each house having a council of eighteen members, and with thirty members on the Sixth Form council, there is a substantial number of students involved in this initiative.

The core of the programme is aimed at giving students the confidence to raise, discuss and respond to issues which affect the student body - both in school and in the community. Students take on board the difficult role of 'moral messaging' across the school, engaging students in issues which concern us all - student behaviour in the locale being one aspect. The success of the programme can be seen in the increased numbers of students wishing to become involved. Students have become more confident in speaking out against injustice, unfairness, bullying and anti-social behaviour. There is much key work to be done in this area, with the Trust supporting those teachers and students involved.

To fully fund this programme costs £10,000

Staff development

The location of the school, where the cost of residential accommodation is amongst the most expensive in the country, results in the appointment of a significant proportion newly qualified teachers each year and, consequently, a higher turnover of staff than provincial schools experience. With a teaching workforce whose average professional experience is around two years, vital opportunities must be provided to develop professional, learning and leading skills. Through providing these opportunities, funded by the Trust, the school aims to support and retain approximately 50% of staff in the first three years of teaching.

The Trust also funds the 'Aspirant Leaders' courses which are aimed specifically to develop our own teacher leaders and, indeed, promote them as posts arise. Assisting young teachers professionally  improves their performance and will assist the school in retaining its best.

Staff development will cost in the region of £35,000 a year. 

Breakfast club

This is the fourth year that the Trust has been funding a free breakfast for all students and teachers. Some 160 students and 50 staff have breakfast each day. With many students taking breakfast two or three times a week, it has had a positive impact on the attendance and punctuality - and there is a growing body of evidence that a healthy breakfast helps students work better and concentrate harder.

To keep this initiative going requires £50,000 a year. 

Teacher initiatives
Since the inception of the Trust, members of teaching staff have been invited to apply to the Trust to fund projects that encourage and reward effort, academic performance, and behaviour in and out of school. Projects have included extra curricular dance and sport, reward trips for effort and improvement in behaviour, and educational courses and visits. Teachers apply for funds for each project and representatives of the Trustees, the Associate Head and the Senior Deputy Head review each one to see whether it will make a significant contribution to the improvement of the school. There is a rigorous follow up to see whether the projects have succeeded. These courses and trips make an important contribution to the academic, education and reinforce  positive behaviour amongst students.

Some £80,000 a year is needed to continue supporting such projects.