Bedales School case studies (17)

Impact of partnership work done in 2023 (ISC annual Census 2024)

• 5 state schools involved
• 501-1000 state school pupils involved
• 500 staff hours given

Impact Statement

Partnership update January 2019
Bedales has developed a close collaboration with the Bohunt Academy Trust, building on initial work the previous year. Activities have included:
• Mental Health training and development for staff - workshops with Bohunt and Priory Schools. Exam stress strategies for students, and student voice initiatives discussed. Relationships established. Future visits planned around student voice and engagement.
• Student workshops – Head students from Bedales, Bohunt and The Petersfield School meet to discuss common issues, eg. mental health and pastoral care in each school and how we can learn from each other, specifically looking at the different support in each school to help student wellbeing and to combat anxiety and depression. Students shared the different approaches to supporting young people in each of our schools, as well as each school’s existing platforms. We discussed how to deal with high levels of stress in exam years by helping to find alternative solutions to help students manage exam stress such as mindfulness and exercise.
“Everyone appeared very excited to take their feedback to each of their school councils. We are looking forward to another meeting in the third term, hosted by Bedales, to continue learning from each other and share the progress we are making.”
• Helping prepare Bohunt students for Oxbridge applications, with interview practice.
• Planning a panel question and answer event on 1 February 2019 (modelled on ‘Question Time) with students from local sixth forms, Heads and Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire and Secretary of State for Education. Students from Bohunt and Bedales on the panel and students submitted questions in advance. Event chaired by freelance journalist.
Local primary school, Steep School:
• Chemistry Lab Day – for local primary schools including Steep and Froxfield.
• Creation of an outdoor teaching space at Steep Primary by a team of Bedales students and teachers.
• Outdoor work experience for Steep Reception and Y1 children, visited our school farm to see the pigs, sheep and chickens.
• Over 20 sixth form students have volunteered to go to Steep primary. So far they have been assisting children with their reading and their maths, and participating in their forest school activities.
Pupil Referral Unit, The Key, Gosport:
Collaboration established with The Key, Pupil Referral Unit for pupils who have been excluded from local state schools. Group of pupils and teachers attended weekly visits to Bedales Outdoor Work department for a range of outdoor activities, including blacksmithing (making hooks), pizza making in outdoor oven, and visiting the farm animals. Rotate the children on half term cycles. Head of the PRU said that the pupils were actually coming into the unit rather than truanting in order to visit Bedales.