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CONTACT US Word from the Head – 9 May 2025
Dear Parents,
It was a delight to spend yesterday at the HMC Spring Conference in the company of Paula Whyte, the head of our partner school St Aloysius’ College. The theme for the day was Partnerships for the Wider Good and we enjoyed the chance to hear from a number of heads in state and independent schools about the impact of their partnership work, as well as from Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat MP, who has been a long time supporter of cross-sector collaboration. We both came away inspired and with plenty of ideas for our future work together.
In the tough times facing the independent sector, both politically and economically, this collaboration is needed now more than ever. While the rhetoric from Whitehall is that independent schools only educate 7% of the population and the Department for Education’s focus is on the other 93%, we rally to the belief that the education of 100% of children matters. Here at Channing we know that our collaboration with our local partner schools and Highgate Newtown Community Partners (HNCP), under the banner of our Education Plus Alliance, enables new experiences and quality of provision that it would not be possible for each of us to provide alone.
The work that we do together is mutually beneficial and enriching, for staff and students alike. When our older students are providing younger pupils with academic enrichment and listening ear, like our Year 10s working with readers at Whitehall Park, both groups gain from the time spent together. Likewise our staff enjoy their contribution, such as our DofE team taking St Aloysius boys on their Bronze practice expedition over the Bank Holiday weekend. Partnerships are at their most powerful when children of the same age and ability work together on their common interests. We see that at Channing in our Young Enterprise, debating and robotics clubs with St Aloysius, for example, and where Channing pupils get to meet pupils and use their facilities and staff expertise for experiences they wouldn’t otherwise get, like DT at St Aloysius and baking at La Sainte Union.
Social impact at Channing doesn’t mean Charity Commission-mandated public benefit, provided as a minimum tick-box requirement. Nor is it Lady Bountiful largesse, bestowed upon those less fortunate than ourselves to make us feel good. Rather our social impact mission means bringing together like-minded staff with common values and purpose, who are committed to working collaboratively to find meaningful and valuable outcomes for all our pupils.
Next Friday I am excited to be attending the official opening of the new HNCP Community Centre in Bertram Street. I’ll be speaking alongside Tulip Siddiq, our constituency MP, about the value of our work with this important organisation. Once the festivities are over, the work of creating our new Hub will begin, offering after-school catch up classes based at the HNCP centre for Pupil Premium pupils in local schools. Not a tick box or vanity project in sight – just thoughtful, targeted, valuable support for those who need it most, delivered by students who have just as much to gain from teaching as from being taught. Bring it on.
Finally this week a word of encouragement to those of you starting your (sorry, I mean your child’s) GCSE and A level exams. I very much enjoyed this week’s Wednesday Wisdom from Dr Kathy Weston at Tooled Up Education, skilfully weaving parental advice with reflections on the VE Day celebrations which took place at the weekend. I hope you may find something useful there too.
With best wishes for the weekend,
Mrs Lindsey Hughes
Headmistress
