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Social Impact
A Year of Learning, Leadership and Community Impact
The Social Impact Department at Channing School has continued to grow in strength and purpose throughout the past academic year, fostering meaningful connections with local primary and secondary schools as well as with charities and the wider community. Education Plus and community relations remain the bedrock of Social Impact at Channing.
Education Plus
In collaboration with Highgate Newtown Community Partners (HNCP), Brookfield Primary and St Aloysius’ College, the Education Plus programme has provided a number of opportunities to students across local schools.
One of the flagship initiatives has been the Channing Science Club, run by the Senior School’s Science Department and supported by an enthusiastic team of Sixth Form volunteers. Held weekly at Channing, this hands-on club welcomed KS2 pupils from Brookfield Primary, Highgate Primary, St Joseph’s and Channing Junior School. Through engaging experiments in biology, chemistry and physics — from creating volcanic eruptions to exploring the microscopic world of germs — pupils were encouraged to discover the joy of science beyond the national curriculum. Sixth Form volunteers not only shared their passion but also developed vital communication and leadership skills. As one student reflected:
“It has helped me with my communication skills and explaining ideas to younger years.”
Another much-loved initiative has been Minimus Club, a Latin and Classics enrichment programme for local KS2 pupils, taught in partnership with the Channing Classics Department and a group of committed Year 12 students. Children were introduced to the Latin language and immersed in Roman civilisation — from mythological tales to ancient architecture. Creative activities such as storyboarding myths allowed students to express what they had learnt in imaginative ways. The impact was clear: 90% of pupils agreed they had learnt something new and would like to repeat the experience. A Year 12 volunteer reflected:
“It has been an interesting experience for me to grow as a person and develop my skills. It was equally enjoyable to watch the pupils improve and grow as people.”
Our Sixth Formers also played a key role in local Breakfast and Reading Clubs at Brookfield, Highgate and Whitehall Park primary schools. Attending weekly, they offered a calm and joyful start to the day by playing board games, leading drawing activities and supporting reading. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, both from the schools and from the volunteers themselves. “The volunteers have been completely reliable and absolutely wonderful with the children,” commented one primary school teacher. “They are an absolute credit to the school.”
Meanwhile, every Channing volunteer surveyed said they had developed their adaptability and communication skills, with one commenting: “I think I have been able to show more empathy towards students who struggled with reading.”
Across all programmes, the benefits of Education Plus work run both ways. Primary school pupils enjoy enrichment experiences, mentorship and exposure to inspiring older role models, while Channing students develop the soft skills that underpin strong leadership and service: patience, empathy, clarity of communication and teamwork.
Cooking and Baking
This year’s cooking and baking programmes have offered students a delicious way to develop life skills, confidence and friendships. Year 13s took part in enrichment sessions with private chef Arti Mirwani-Daltry, learning to prepare simple, nutritious meals like quesadillas, chow mein and yoghurt flatbreads.
Meanwhile, an after-school club for Year 10 students from Channing and St Aloysius’ explored global street food, creating aloo tikki burgers, tikka skewers and loaded nachos while mastering essential techniques. Younger students from Channing and La Sainte Union also got involved, baking crumbles, cupcakes and cakes under the guidance of Diego from Channing Catering. The sessions were so popular that extra classes were added — with Head of Year 7 Ms Garrill praising not just the bakes but the new friendships formed.
Community Projects
Channing is a major sponsor of Fair in the Square, and every year we help with volunteers and stage presence. This year, the band Spraytan wowed the audience — and have already been asked to return!
We have also been involved with Lauderdale House and the Cabinet of Curiosities project, which enabled Channing students to work with others from a number of schools, engaging in ceramics and bronze work.
The opening of the HNCP Centre was marked by a wonderful day of celebrations, with Channing students volunteering to help register special guests — including Baroness Hodge of Barking DBE and the Rt Hon Tulip Siddiq MP — as well as performing in the Channing choirs and orchestra alongside LSU’s choir. Our relationship with HNCP underpins our social impact work, and we believe in this strong and mutually beneficial partnership.
German Fun Club
A big Thank you to Frau Loosli, who ran this club — now in its third year — ably assisted by our German Language Assistant, Carina. Six Year 5 and 6 pupils were joined every week by students from our partner school, St Joseph’s, to learn some German, culminating as always in cupcake decoration!
Communitea: Building Connections Over Tea and Tech
Another highlight of this year’s Partnerships programme has been Communitea, a monthly event series run in collaboration with Highgate Newtown Community Partners. Held in Channing’s dining hall, these warm and welcoming afternoons bring together local residents, student volunteers, IT staff and musicians for tea, conversation and informal tech support.
Designed to demystify everyday technology, the sessions offer a friendly space for older community members to ask questions, connect with others and enjoy live music performed by Channing students. The initiative has become a cherished fixture, with many regulars returning and forming lasting intergenerational bonds.
For the student volunteers, the experience has been transformative. They describe building confidence, empathy and leadership skills while learning the simple power of listening. As one enthusiastic participant put it: “It reminded us how valuable it is to connect across generations — and just how much we can all learn from each other.”
Social Impact work continues to be a vibrant expression of Channing’s ethos — combining academic enrichment with compassion, responsibility and community spirit. We look forward to building on this year’s successes, deepening our impact and welcoming new faces in the year ahead.
I would also like to thank Gabriel Felder, the Social Impact Coordinator, for his tireless work in ensuring the growth and progress of the partnership clubs and activities.
Ms Kung
Director of Social Impact
