Monkton Combe School case studies (68)

Impact Statement

As a result of our partnerships, the following activities have taken place this year:

In October 2021 we hosted a Girls on Track Formula 1 Day on site, welcoming over 90 pupils from 6 schools, including two state schools, for a day of engineering related sessions linked to Formula 1. A group of students and staff have also run a regular after school club at Combe Down Primary School this year, providing sessions on social enterprise and science/ engineering.

Monkton hosted the first ever Bath Schools Philosothon in January 2022, holding collaborative debating rounds with 9 schools from the Bath area, half of which were state schools. Over 90 pupils took part, having the opportunity to make links with each other, develop confidence and communication skills and enjoy developing their thinking on a wide range of topics. Monkton provided dinner and refreshments for this event, and held it free of charge as a community event.

Monkton hosted and led on the launch of the Bath Student Parliament this year, bringing together pupils from 10 Bath schools, both state and independent, to form a series of working groups as well as a formal parliament structure from which to effect positive change in our community. Monkton has allocated a staff member to lead on this project, as well as committing our venues and some financial resources towards getting this project set up. 

Monkton has delivered a six week 'rowing experience' programme to pupils in years 5&6 at Combe Down Primary for 3 consecutive years, taking pupils on the river but also giving them skills on the rowing machines. This has used Monkton's expert staff and also equipment and volunteer time.

Monkton's drama venues have also been used this year to support the wider community. We hosted Freshford Primary School for 3 days as they rehearsed and then performed A Midsummer Night's Dream, with a cast of over 70 pupils and involving the whole school (158 pupils) as well as their parents and family members. We have also hosted a small number of local schools for drama and technical workshops and performances over the year.

Local schools and other community groups use: of pool - currently Combe Down Primary, St Julian's Wellow, Shoscombe Primary, St Martin's Garden, Swainswick Primary and Batheaston School hold lessons in our pool. This enables local state schools to provide lessons to over 300 pupils.

Swim School enables approx. 450 children a week to learn to swim or to improve their swimming skills. In addition to this, private swimming lessons and intensive swimming lessons are also available. Most of these children come from local state primaries. We offer 35 pupils from a local state school free water safety and swimming sessions once a year in order to help them meet their requirements in this regard. 

The Music centre is let out to a variety of local groups. This enables 100s of local people to meet and engage with the community. A new choir has been set up since this was offered. This year Monkton took part in the Bath Festivals 'Schools' Voices' project, contributing £500 to support the initiative, and contributing staff and pupil involvement. We also hosted 145 pupils from a range of local schools for a series of Bach performances by Libby Burgess. 

We organised and hosted GCSE and A Level revision courses in the Easter holidays. These were residential. These lasted a week and focused on Maths, English and Science along with other subjects. We hosted over 80 students from at least 4 local state schools. The feedback was positive with parents remarking on the improved confidence of the pupils. 

Minis and Muckers Holiday Camps and Theatre school, Swim Camp, Rookie lifeguarding courses plus other children's activity courses run through the school holidays. Bath Pentathlon train in our pool. Turtle tots also have the pool for baby swimming lessons.

Combe Down Primary School also uses the Prep School playing fields and astro including using it for their Sports Day. Bath Buccaneers use the Prep School hockey artificial turf pitches. Bath City Cubs also use the venue and our staff volunteer time in order to run activities.

Monkton has developed a series of professional coaching courses for staff alongside Grayling, and has been able to offer these to senior staff and teachers in our local community. Similarly, we have developed a wide ranging programme of first aid courses which we have been able to offer and deliver at cost price to a growing range of local schools, churches and community groups. This has been a major area of growth in our partnership offering this year. In addition to this, we have purchased and shared a Teentips package with Ralph Allen school over this academic year. 

Finally, Monkton continues to hold to a strong ethos of service to our community, and we have a long term commitment to Genesis Trust in Bath, supporting with financial donations and fundraising events on a regular basis over the year. In addition to this, the pupil-led 'Giving Committee' has raised over £10,000 this year for over 9 different charitable organisations, both local and international.