We are rooted in our community and are proud to share our facilities, expertise, knowledge and experience with those around us. Our Outreach and Partnership programme also helps St Helen’s pupils gain valuable skills and experience which are applicable to a range of higher education and career pathways, and which will help prepare them for life beyond school in all sorts of ways.

Our Outreach and Partnership Programme

Activity Days

We offer Activity Days for pupils in local state maintained primary schools during which they can experience a range of workshops including Science based sessions such as ‘CSI St Helen’s’, Animal Behaviour, Sports Science, Microscopes and life, as well as Art, Music, Design and Technology, and creative activities such as printing and origami.

We also offer sporting or practical Activity Days including swimming, climbing, badminton, netball, basketball, volleyball, building campfires, toasting marshmallows, orienteering and rounders.

Our Masterclasses, and study group programmes offer a series of sessions with a specific focus, such as mathematical transformations, probability, Pythagoras, angles, magic squares, aerospace and engineering days.

Literacy and Oracy

The aim of this strand of the programme is to support the literacy and oracy of students in the local community which has been significantly impacted through the coronavirus crisis. In line with Government findings and projects identifying literacy and oracy as an area requiring particular support in the post-Covid era, we have developed our Literacy and Oracy Outreach Programme using in-house language, phonics and literacy expertise.

The programme supports Early Language Development, phonics recognition, reading and comprehension through:

  • Small world play and language modelling
  • Phonics teaching and specialist support for phonics and early reading
  • Reading comprehension and paired reading strategies

Following comprehensive training, Sixth Form students go into selected local primary schools and provide support with phonics recognition and early language development.

Provision of specific resources, guidance and support as needed

We provide additional provision of resources, guidance and expertise in response to specific needs, including specialist dyslexia screening for students, subject specific support and training for teachers, requested resources e.g. jigsaws and puzzles, play equipment, bikes and tricycles, coats, rainsuits, sports and other general equipment.