RGS Recognised for Extensive Community Outreach Programme
Reigate Grammar School has been awarded Independent School of the Year for Community Outreach. The awards, in association with Independent School Parent magazine, were judged by a panel comprised of leading figures from the education sector and chaired by Dr Helen Wright, international education advisor and past Vice Chair of the Independent Schools Council (ISC).
The judging panel recognised RGS for its school partnership projects such as ‘crime scene’ forensic science and ‘I’m a Geographer get me out of here’ in academic areas such as science, humanities and the arts, the sharing of their facilities and the music, theatre, art, sports and languages workshops and events that are run with local schools. Judges were also pleased by the work RGS does with other local senior schools, inviting students to attend their Higher Education evening, employment talks, careers conventions, universities events and Oxbridge preparation programmes. In total, over 1000 local state school children benefit from RGS’s community programmes. The judges also commended the volunteering work that RGS students and staff engage in, helping care homes, charities, and environmental projects, community groups for the elderly, residential homes, food banks and primary. The award submission highlighted the new RGS Saturday Music College and the sports camps hosted in the holidays for local children which are open to all children from the local community to participate in on weekends and in the school holidays. The judges were also impressed by the work that RGS does to drive social mobility within the school with approximately 170 children at RGS being on means-tested bursaries.
Headmaster Shaun Fenton said
It is such a magnificent award and we are so pleased to be recognised for all the important work we are doing within our community partnership programme. This award comes in a term where we have also been shortlisted for four national TES awards, and highly commended for Co-educational School of the Year. Above and beyond any award though, it is fundamental that we do this work as it integral to our core values of making the world a better place, developing responsibility and moral purpose and helping our students become conscientious and committed individuals. Nevertheless, I am also delighted that our work is being celebrated by independent organisations and education specialists, further highlighting its importance.
