Through Eton College’s Partnerships programme, over 3,000 state school students participated in partnership activity since September 2021. As demonstrated by the new Partnerships infographics, there are many different opportunities for students and teachers to participate in. Read on for the year’s highlights so far.
Starting with Holyport College, our close partnership has continued to flourish in the last academic year, notably the Poetry by Heart project, Investment Club, and the shared breaking of fast for Muslim students during Ramadan. Other highlights were a joint Quiz Night at Holyport and presentations from Holyport Year 8 pupils to their Eton mentors following this year’s mentoring programme. Holyport students have joined society meetings, many played regular Fives, younger pupils crafted projects in the Design Schools, and seniors rowed on Dorney Lake. Holyport are also keen to put on record their appreciation for the support provided by Eton to their Oxbridge candidates (four of whom were successful, including a Looked After Child).
Throughout November 2021, 112 state school pupils from eight different schools had mock online Oxbridge interviews. The volunteer interviewers were made up of 21 Eton beaks (teachers) and 21 external interviewers, some of whom were Old Etonians and parents of current Etonians. Of those students who were asked to interview at Oxbridge, 30% have received offers.
Eton’s partnership with the London Academy of Excellence (LAE) also continued to engage staff and students this half (term), through the Eton x LAE Leadership Institute (ELLI). Monthly online sessions continued for the third cohort of ELLI, and the students also had a chance to meet in person in March during a joint trip to London. A visit to LAE is planned for 30 of Eton’s C Block (Year 12) pupils in June.
Two groups of students from Eastside Young Leaders Academy (EYLA) attended Eton Connect Student Visit Days, as well as students from Broomfield School and John Madejski Academy. Five pupil visits are planned for this Summer Half (Summer Term). Eton Connect also hosted visits for leadership team members from six local state schools. The visits have proved highly informative for both sides, with our team hearing first-hand how we can best build partnerships with our state sector colleagues and pupils.
Over the past nine months, boy-led social action has been highly active. Through the collective efforts of parents, staff and boys, Eton Action raised over £40,000 for UNICEF’s Ukraine Appeal. Other fundraising activities have brought the total amount of funds raised by boys this year to over £60,500. The Social Impact Challenge and The Khemka Social Impact Prize had a record number of entries and both produced presentations of the highest standards yet. Almost 100 boys attended the Eton Action AGM in January and voted on next year’s charities. For the first time ever, each charity chosen has a strong connection with an Eton boy. The date for this year’s Eton Action Fair is Saturday 17 September 2022, 11am-4pm. The Eton Action Fair is the largest fundraising event of the year, which invites the whole school as well as parents and the local community to attend.
For Eton College Community Engagement (ECCE), approximately 160 boys in C Block (Year 12) gave service across four charity shops, 10 local schools (primary, middle and secondary), and a range of other organisations such as care homes, libraries and cultural centres, as well as Slough Mencap, Swan Lifeline and the Eton Tourist Information Centre. Boys also continued to assist with school visits to our museums and teaching rowing at Dorney Lake.
Over at Dorney Lake, the Rowing Manager led over 120 sessions for state school pupils through the Dorney Boat Club, and visits from Langley Academy and Holyport College. There is an average of 60 students per week on the lake, which is predicted to rise to 150 per week during the Summer Half (Summer Term).
The Collections’ Education Officer ran 43 on-site primary school learning sessions with 2,908 children during the Lent Half (Spring Term). The provision of transport for state schools who need it has increased the numbers of onsite visits, with the most popular session being Ancient Egyptians in the Museum of Antiquities. Virtual workshops are still available and 27 of these have been run for 1,058 pupils since September 2021.
The inaugural Year 6 Science Workshop saw 160 pupils from Slough and Windsor visit our Queen’s Schools for an afternoon of workshops in the three sciences. Further workshops are to be scheduled for the next academic year following the success of this programme. The aim is to link the Science Afternoons with a visit to the Eton College Collections and a lesson in Fives.
The Partnerships and Summer Schools teams worked closely with local schools during the Lent Half (Spring Term). They have now secured over 400 free places on summer courses for state school pupils, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds. We hope the opportunity to attend a summer course at Eton will make a significant impact on their next steps through school and beyond.
