PM learns about schools partnership

PRIME Minister Theresa May visited Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning to learn about its student-led outreach programme, the Aldworth Partnership.

The partnership is an umbrella term for the student-led outreach work that the school undertakes.

Every student is involved in community service in some way and so leaves a legacy of service for future students to follow.

The philosophy underpinning the partnership is that the work is transformational, i.e. that both parties grow in character because of the relationship.

Headmaster Jesse Elzinga, school chaplain Rev James Stephenson, who helps run the partnership, four senior prefects leading the partnership and teachers and pupils from Sonning Primary School, Thameside Primary School in Caversham and Cranbury College in Reading talked about the partnership.

Mr Elzinga said: ‘It was heartwarming to hear the pupils describe what they liked about their link with Blue Coat.

“They mentioned using our cross-country course, swimming in our pool and being taught languages, maths and sport by our pupils back at their own schools.”

“We are not trying to tick a political box or to satisfy the Charities Commission; we build these partnerships because we are a community school that wants to support education, not just of our own pupils but also of the pupils in the wider area.”

Pictured, top, are Jesse Elzinga, head girl Kitty Bate, head boy Ben Freeman, Mrs May, senior prefects Kristin Barwell and Chris Peat and Rev James Stephenson and, above, Mrs May chatting to students from Sonning primary as Mr Elzinga looks on.