Partnerships Update

WIDER CIRCLES

CATERHAM SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

Clifton Hill

Partnerships are part of core school life at Caterham with pupils actively involved in volunteering, charity work and collaborative projects. Our young people work with local, regional and global partners to offer long term support and mutual learning outcomes. Our pupils gain perspective and begin to define their societal responsibilities, and gain as much from such long standing partners as those we aim to support.

Caterham Lower Sixth Form pupils plan and deliver the weekly games and social programme for Clifton Hill School. Each Friday, Key Stage 4 pupils from Clifton Hill come to Caterham to take part in sports and social activities which are devised and delivered by Caterham pupils. As the academic year comes to an end, the programme is handed from one Lower Sixth year group to the upcoming year group (the Fifth Year shadow the ‘old hands’ during each Summer Term). In addition to weekly sessions, which run throughout the year, Sixth Form pupils plan and deliver two sports days annually which are held at Caterham School. These days are a wonderful, shared community occasion and a celebration for all the pupils involved from both schools.

Caterham’s 12-year partnership with Clifton Hill School (a local school for young people with severe learning difficulties and autism) was the brainchild of Old Caterhamian Amy Lovell who suggested and kick started the project during her Sixth Form in 2006. In the early days, the partnership with Clifton Hill was heavily supported by teachers, but in 2019 is now both thriving and almost entirely run by the Lower Sixth Form.

“The self-esteem of Clifton Hill students is greatly enhanced. Learning and being able to put into practice socially acceptable behaviours in a community setting are a huge benefit.”

Teacher, Clifton Hill

The partnership with Clifton Hill has grown exponentially since Amy’s inspired beginnings in 2006 and the highest ever number of Caterham pupils engaged in the project in 2018. Currently, 70 Caterham Sixth Formers actively take part each week. Such is the enduring and positive nature of the partnership between the two schools that Caterham’s director of partnerships, Tony Fahey, has been appointed a governor of Clifton Hill.

The long standing relationship helps both schools: Clifton Hill achieve their set goals in social integration for pupils and the provision of a sports offer in addition to their pupils enjoying the extra space/facilities to run around in and enjoy. Caterham pupils gain leadership skills and experience from their interactions with young people with disabilities. Each group of up to 20 Caterham pupils has two leaders – trained up by the previous year’s leaders.

Much more than these defined outcomes, both schools are firm friends with shared time, established trust between each other, established relationships and a bond that will endure for another 12 years – and well beyond. 

“I have never worked with disabled children before, it was new and challenging yet extremely rewarding.”