Charity and Community Involvement

We value the opportunity for all pupils to be involved in fund-raising and charity work. We believe that pupils gain an important insight into the lives of others and their place in the wider world. We try to support several charities during the year that helps pupils appreciate the difficulties faced by those less fortunate than themselves.

In November, pupils sold poppies in school in aid of the Royal British Legion , and were given the opportunity to appreciate the significance of this appeal during the Remembrance Assembly.

Later in the month, Year 7 pupils performed “Robin Hood – A Pantomine”. Proceeds from the sale of tickets for the performances, which were directed by Year 11 pupils, were an impressive £612. We were pleased to welcome Bridgett Vane, Director of Marketing and Fundraising for the Rose Road Association, to a joint Year 7/Year 11 Assembly to receive the cheque. The money will help the Association in its work providing services for children and young people with severe, profound and multiple disabilities in Southampton and South Hampshire.

Also in November, we held a “Festive and Sparkly” non-uniform day, which raised £572. Part of this was used to purchase gifts in support of the Mayor's Toy Appeal. Pupils from all year groups enjoyed shopping in Southampton for 21 gifts, which were wrapped in school and sent to the Appeal for distribution to local disadvantaged children.

The non-uniform day also provided the funds for our annual Senior Citizen's Christmas Party . On December 5th, over 50 senior citizens enjoyed a buffet meal and an afternoon of entertainment including carols and music from the Wind and Jazz Bands, poetry readings, a festive quiz and a raffle.

Disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe benefited from our involvement in the Samaritan's Purse “Operation Christmas Child” Shoebox Appeal . Pupils were encouraged to fill shoeboxes with an assortment of small gifts, and over 50 boxes were received.

The Mayor's Charities benefited from the collection at our Christmas Carol Concert at Bitterne Parish Church , which raised £250.

During the year we have encouraged pupils to become more environmentally aware, and have sought to raise awareness of issues which not only concern pupils directly in their own environment, but also on an international scale.

The School has promoted recycling schemes, including the collection of plastic milk bottle tops and used stamps for Naomi House Childrens' Hospice , who recycle them to raise funds for the hospice.

In addition, as part of the Fair Trade Fortnight (6 th -19 th March) , we took the decision to order all future supplies of tea and coffee for pupils and staff from Fair Trade sources. This initiative supports the work we have been undertaking in school to promote the “Fair Trade” scheme, which benefits farmers and workers in developing countries, offering a fair price, environmental benefits and more secure markets.

Continuing our involvement in international charities, the School supported Christian Aid week . Monday 15 th May was a “Dress as your hero” non-uniform day, raising £557 for this well-known charity which organises a wide range of projects designed to help people improve their own lives regardless of race or religion, including farming projects and the provision of educational resources.

Also in May, pupils in Years 10 and 11 took part in a sponsored famine, raising £380 for “ World Vision” , an organisation which works to achieve a sustainable impact on poverty and its causes, with particular emphasis on its effect on children.

In July, we supported Cancer Research UK , through a “Wear Pink” non-uniform day and a picnic lunch on the last day of the summer term, which raised £350. In addition, four members of staff ran the “Race for Life” raising a further £505.

At the start of this Autumn term, we held a coffee morning in school as part of the MacMillan Cancer Relief World's Biggest Coffee Morning . Pupils helped serve refreshments and sold raffle tickets, raising £231.

Always very popular with pupils, our non-uniform day in October saw pupils and staff wearing jeans to school, raising a very impressive £625 for the Jeans for Genes charity which funds research into genetic diseases.

We continued to support the Society of St. James in their work with the homeless in Southampton , and donations of tinned soup for our Harvest Festival Assembly were given to the Society for use in their soup kitchens.

We are intending to introduce a number of new initiatives during the forthcoming academic year. These will include supplying old textbooks to the Aang Serian Community School in Tanzania and also through “School Aid” to other areas of Africa, involvement in the work of a local Animal Rescue Centre , raising funds for the RNLI, and supporting the work of “ Moving Mountains ” an organisation which provides educational opportunities for the street children of Africa .

We are very grateful to parents, friends, pupils and staff for their continued support and involvement which enables us to participate in such a wide range of activities, benefiting worthwhile causes and enriching pupils' learning experiences.