Queen Margaret's School for Girls case studies (1)

Impact of partnership work done in 2024 (ISC annual Census 2025)

• 2 state schools involved
• 20 or fewer state school pupils involved
• 5 staff hours given

Impact Statement

The school endeavours to support local state schools by, for example inviting them to send pupils to performances of French, German and Spanish plays by touring companies; providing pupils with an opportunity to observe a language that they are studying in use in an enjoyable and accessible way, thus reinforcing their learning in the classroom. The school shares knowledge, skills and expertise and experience with state schools at subject days such as Latin, Classics and Psychology. This impacts on the pupils as a consequence of the opportunity given to teachers reflect on pedagogy developments together and to share best practice. The School hosts an annual Science day for local primary schools, which has the effect of making the study of the sciences attractive and fun to the pupils.

The National Council of Young Women Conference held in September had attendees from state and independent schools. Listening to speakers, followed by mixed group discussions on topic closing with a feedback session provided the attendees with an opportunity to explore ideas together and to develop confidence to express those ideas in a formal setting.

The school’s AstroTurf is offered free of charge for use to external children and young persons’ sporting organisations, enabling pupils from outside the school to benefit from our facilities and to participate in competitive sport with all of the advantages that this brings. With this object in mind the school also hosts joint sporting events (inter-school fixtures which includes hockey, netball, tennis, rounders, swimming) with state schools and organises local district tournaments, eg under 15 hockey and netball tournaments. The school’s swimming pool is provided free of charge to our local primary school every week, including the services of the school’s life guard, and the school hosts local swimming festivals (predominantly local primary schools); supporting and promoting the aim that every child should have the chance to learn to swim whilst at school.

Approximately 250 local primary school children came to see the school’s production of, "Voyage of the Dawntreader" last June.

For, "Blue Stockings," in March 2019, we have invited 10 local middle and secondary schools to attend our matinee performance, followed by a 2 hour workshop, led by our Director of Drama, on the key themes and characters from the play. As "Blue Stockings" is a GCSE set text, this will allow almost 300 pupils to access the play in a new, engaging way. They will develop skills in analysis, character formation, contextual understanding and directorial viewpoints, which will support and stretch their current Drama studies. It will also allow students to benefit from our outstanding Drama resources (theatre, props, costumes, lights etc) and build a positive sense of community and passion for the Arts. Ideally, some of our cast will also participate in the workshop, allowing students to build links with one another and model positive, creative behaviour across schools.

In June, we will be inviting 250 local primary school children to our matinee performance of, "Hetty Feather," which will also be followed by a 2hr Drama workshop on key themes, characters and circus skills. Students aged 7-11yrs will develop their creative thinking, teamwork skills and physical communication by participating in the workshop and devising their own pieces of theatre. It will also allow students to benefit from our outstanding Drama resources (theatre, props, costumes, lights etc.) and build a positive sense of community and passion for the Arts. Ideally, some of the cast & our Drama Scholars will also take part, allowing students to build links with one another and model positive, creative behaviour across schools.

The Director of Drama is currently setting up a Drama Teachers' Working Party, and will hopefully be having our first meeting in April/May. This will allow Drama teachers from around 10 local schools to work together and share good practice, overcome obstacles, develop exciting new resources and create links for future projects. Hosting the termly event at QM will allow staff to benefit from our excellent Drama resources and also work in a new, stimulating environment. The aim is to support local Drama teachers who typically work in small departments & have little time/money for CPD, as well as improving the Arts provision for students in our community.