Recent Initiatives
During the Covid-19 pandemic all Trust projects were suspended. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme was gradually re-introduced in September 2021.
The following projects have been supported by the Trust during the last five years:
Breakfast Club
Over two hundred students and fifty staff have breakfast each day. With so many students taking breakfast two or three times a week, Breakfast Club has a positive impact on attendance and punctuality. There is overwhelming evidence that a healthy breakfast helps students work better and concentrate harder. Breakfast Club received long-term financial support from Patrons Jeremy and Britta Lloyd.
To keep this initiative going requires £45,000 each year.
The 'Supporting Science' Project
Funded by the Möhn Westlake Foundation, a major initiative since 2014, Supporting Science made a significant impact on science learning , attainment and awareness.
The aim of the project was to improve access and provide additionally to the science curriculum throughout the whole school, with clubs, courses, a Science Week, a link with Imperial College, special resources, visits, and teacher in-service opportunities.
With a range of science activities such as Dissection Club, Dangerous Experiments, Reptile Keepers, Breakfast with Scientists, Computer Scientists, Physics Club and Engineering Club, the science department encouraged more students to take up the sciences at A level and university, while raising academic attainment in science across the whole school.
The 'Supporting Science' Project receives £16,000 annually.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
With long-sustained support from Patrons Christopher and Jo Holdsworth-Hunt, the Trust continues to fund the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at Gold, Silver and Bronze level for one hundred and twenty five students. Guidance and leadership is provided by the Trust’s Physical Fitness Trainer - a professionally qualified Mountain Leader with advanced First Aid certificates. The Trust funds the entire training, resourcing and leadership of the expedition element of the award.
This scheme requires £20,000 each year.
Residential Courses
Each year, the Trust funds an extended weekend learning courses in maths at Flatford Mill in Suffolk. Over two hundred students have attended these courses in the past five years, with all students achieving their target grades, and the majority exceeding it by one grade.The Trust also helps a number of individual Sixth Formers to attend one of the many residential Summer Schools organised at UK universities.
Residential courses require £6,000 each year.
Physical Fitness Training
This initiative - started nine years ago - provides the school with a Physical Fitness Trainer [PFT] to run daily fitness clubs. The Trust has expanded the role of the PFT who now runs four clubs - The 300 Club, Thai-boxing Club, Cross Fit , and the fitness programme for all levels of The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme - bringing fitness techniques, endurance training, and healthy lifestyle awareness to some one hundred and fifty students.
The Clubs require £14,000 each year.
Teacher initiatives
The Trust is indebted to the enthusiastic support of teachers. Throughout the academic year, individual teachers and groups of teachers are invited to apply to the Trust to fund projects that encourage and reward effort, academic performance, and behaviour in and out of school. Smaller projects include ART, MUSIC, DANCE, SPORT the LIBRARY and SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. Teachers can apply for funds for a specific project. Applications are considered and grants made to projects that will make a valuable additional contribution to students’ learning and confidence. These projects make an important contribution to the life of the school and reinforce positive behaviour amongst students.
Some £5,000 a year is reserved for these projects.
Patron-Sponsored Projects
Through the generosity of individual Patrons, the Trust has been able to support the school with long-term initiatives.
Patrons have sponsored Breakfast Club, the 'Supporting Science' Project, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the Maths Residential Weekends, and Physical Fitness Training
We are immensely grateful to our Patrons for supporting projects with a total of £75, 000 annually.