Awards
Ashford School shortlisted for Community Outreach award We are pleased to announce that Ashford School has been shortlisted for an Independent School of the Year Award for our community-centred Swim Programme. The annual awards programme, run by Independent School Parent Magazine, aims to celebrate the excellence of student experience in independent schools across the country. Each year, organisers receive nominations from hundreds of independent schools in each of the 24 award categories. From these entries, standout schools are shortlisted for each award, with an independent panel of expert judges having the difficult task of deciding the final winners. In being shortlisted for the Community Outreach award, Ashford School’s Swim Programme (ASSP) has been recognised nationally for the decisive and positive contribution it has made to the local community over the past year. Launched in 2015 and led by Denise Walsh, ASSP is a programme that gives young people and adults, both at the school and across the local community, the opportunity to access top-class swimming facilities and expertise. Amid the closure of sports centres throughout the pandemic, ASSP staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that community provision has been able to continue. By extending opening hours and being creative with changing facilities and timetabling, the programme has continued to thrive. Alongside offering curriculum swimming to students at the school, over 750 pupils from the local community have benefited from ASSP, including vulnerable children and those with special needs. ASSP has also been lending its support to local swimming clubs, offering pool space and working with coaches to ensure that local talent is being nurtured. Likewise, to ensure the programme is underpinned by a strong team of coaches, the school has launched a new Swim Coach Apprenticeship and offers regular professional development courses for staff. The Independent Schools of the Year judging panel is set to meet in the autumn to make a decision on the winners of this year’s award. The result will be announced as part of a special awards ceremony in October 2021.
6
