We have developed strong Educational partnerships with the following schools in Merton: St Boniface, St Matthews, Lonesome, West Wimbledon, Ricards Lodge, Burntwood, Pelham Primary, Ursuline, Linden Lodge and Perseid School.

Aims to improve social mobility, academic attainment and student well-being.  Students and staff from partner schools worked together in Maths, Science, French, Latin, Sport, Music, Drama and peer-to-peer mentoring. The content of the programme is bespoke to the partner school. The students who are chosen to take part are decided by the partner school, from here the students at WHS plan the lessons, alongside a staff subject specialist and then deliver this. There are a range of different age groups, from Year through to Year 9.

Feedback from external students is overwhelmingly positive, with 95% expressing their enjoyment and 81% saying it has increased their confidence and 81% their determination and resilience:

I have a more positive attitude towards languages now

This is echoed in feedback from partner school staff, with 100% reporting improvement in academic achievement and students’ attitudes:

How wonderful it was to have so many of your staff and students in last Thursday.  It felt like we were the new GDST outpost. Thank you to all your team for their energy and enthusiasm..

Elizabeth Tongue, Senior Deputy Headteacher, Tolworth Girls’ School

Your students are great ambassadors for the school and wonderful role models for women in science.

Siobhan Kerins, Headteacher, St. Boniface RC Primary School

This is a programme based on a carousel of Coding, Maths, English and Science and is delivered to Year 5 high achieving, pupil premium students from four partner schools. Each student has a 1:1 mentor who guides them through the work the specialist member of WHS staff is delivering. The course is 17 weeks long, has four WHS staff and 32 girls working on it.

In THRIVE, the students from across each school will combine to work collaboratively. This course is designed to inspire, build self-confidence, self-efficacy and self-esteem, citizenship and help with the transition from Year 6 into secondary school. This is through the medium of Drama, Music, and outdoor education. Each student will have a 1:1 Y11 or Y12 mentor from WHS. 

General aims: 

• Raise self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-confidence 
• Raise aspirations and school attendance 
• Have a greater understanding of students from different backgrounds 

SHINE provides ten Saturday mornings of creative and academic subjects to Year 4 boys and girls who are high achieving students or who might be at risk of underachieving due to their unique family circumstances. It will ultimately stimulate further curiosity, boost self-esteem and improve attainment.

The programme takes place on-site at WHS and the theme is ‘Reach for the Stars’. Twenty-five of the WHS Year 12 students mentor the Year 4 children on a weekly basis. The sessions are led by Wimbledon High staff and cover activities such as Baking, History, Dance, and Art. The project offers the Year 4 boys and girls the chance to mix with students from other schools. We have established good relationships with our partner schools, which is of mutual benefit to both school communities.

We believe that our students benefit from appreciating how privileged they are whilst supporting others. In the coming year, we plan to arrange a further programme that will continue the mentoring system as these children move into Year 5.

The tenth week of the SHINE programme brings together parents, teachers and mentors and sees the mentors talk about their mentees before giving them a memento of their time at Wimbledon.
 

WHS enjoy strong relationships with many local Guilds and care homes. Students in Years 11 & 12 spend time chatting to the residents at Heathland Court and Kew House, in addition to playing games with the elderly at Merton and Morden Guild.