Town Close Prep School case studies (3)

Impact of partnership work done in 2025 (ISC annual Census 2026)

• 27 state schools involved
• 501-1000 state school pupils involved
• 100 staff hours given

Impact Statement

Goblin Go-kart Project
The School's Head of DT was supported to persuade 17 state schools in Norfolk to build their own Goblin go-karts, providing them with training and support to do so and helping them to get grant and sponsored funding. Town Close then found a suitable venue and sponsorship in order for the 17 schools to take part in the first race event to be held in Norfolk. Town Close also provided staff to be stewards for the race. This has allowed a huge number of pupils to take part in these engineering projects (the 17 schools acquired 25 go-karts) and to learn to drive and race them, hopefully allowing them to see a practical application for science and engineering and to gain confidence when taking part in a large Norfolk-wide eventClose allowed The Head of DT to develop links, host meetings and use the School's Goblin cars for promotion which enable the Greenpower Trust to source $20,000 grapersuaded 17 state schools in Norfolk to build their own Goblin go-karts, providing them with training and support to do so and helping them to get grant and sponsored funding. Town Close then found a suitable venue and sponsorship in order for the 17 schools to take part in the first race event to be held in Norfolk. Town Close provided also provided stewards for the race. This has allowed a huge number of pupils to take part in these engineering projects (the 17 schools acquired 25 go-karts) and to learn to drive and race them, hopefully allowing them to see a practical application for science and engineering and to gain confidence when taking part in a large Norfolk-wide event. Each car has typical crew of 6 pupils, meaning that over 150 Year 6 children have been able to benefit from this potentially life-changing experience (in the sense that this opens the door to a possible future career they may never otherwise have considered) each year.

Astroturf Project
Town Close contributed the majority of the capital funding for an astroturf to be built on a local state school site in a three-way project with a local hockey club. Town Close carries out the maintenance of the pitch and provides the services of the company secretary and accounting function free of charge. A Governor from Town Close chairs the consortium board. This has allowed pupils at the state school to play hockey (something they were previously unable to do) and provided a home pitch for the hockey club which also provides coaching sessions for local state feeder schools free of charge. Free community use of the pitch is also offered. This has allowed far greater participation in the sport locally. Five pupils from a local state school who would not have a holiday away from home are invited each year to spend a week at Town Close's holiday club free of charge. This allows those children to have the chance to take part in the activities offered, to spend time outside the home and to mix with children from outside their locality.

Swimming Pool
A local state school for pupils with complex needs uses the Town Close swimming pool each week free of charge - these pupils would otherwise not have the opportunity to go swimming. For many of these pupils, accessing this sort of facility would not otherwise be possible because of their complex needs and sometimes very challenging behaviour.