The Portsmouth Grammar School case studies (4)

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

• 15 state schools involved
• 501-1000 state school pupils involved
• 75 staff hours given

Impact Statement

Top of the Bench - Science
From a parent of a pupil who attended the TOTB day at The Portsmouth Grammar School: "I just wanted to express my appreciation and thank you for organising the day at Portsmouth Grammar yesterday. Nalon arrived home buzzing and didn't stop talking about it until we arrived in Storrington for his tennis coaching at 6pm. He actually hand't wanted to do it when he brought the permission slip home, as having been selected for various 'gifted and talented' opportunities in primary school (some more interesting than others ...) was certain it was 'going to be more boring than normal school' - but decided he would go - if only to prove a point! I'm so glad you were able to surprise a teenager and they had such a good day; he was very pleased to have gone as well as proud of the award they received for team work and time management.
Thank yo once again - it's lovely to see such animation at 1730, the end of the school day. In my eyes you deserve an award for driving there and back with 4 teenagers and making the bus on time at the end of the day!"


Susannah Worth at United World Schools (UWS) who operates Chai Thom School, Camboidia, our partner school.
“We are very proud of our partnership with Portsmouth Grammar School. They were one of our first Partner Schools, joining us back in 2010 to support our sixth ever community school: UWS Chai Thom. Since then, a lot has changed. PGS has helped inspire a legacy of over 150 Partner Schools across 23 countries who have helped us transform more than 16,000 lives through education. They have raised over £50,000 through events that continue to delight and inspire us (Talkathons, Sportathons, PGS Come Dancing, the PGS Fashion Show, the Great South Run to name a few), and many of their students have gone on to volunteer with us in Cambodia as well. UWS Chai Thom School has also flourished and, thanks to PGS, hundreds of children now have the chance to access an education that will transform their future. We are immensely privileged to have continued our relationship with PGS, and look forward to further this partnership in the years to come. Thank you PGS.”

C
David Jeapes, Head of Mayfield School wrote to summarise the partnership between our schools:
“The PGS and Mayfield have developed a number of partnership opportunities over the years. In particular:
1. Wilkie Scholarship
A former pupil of both schools, Mr Brian Wilkie, funds a scholarship for one of our pupils to undertake their post 16 studies. The PGS match funds this to provide another scholarship. To date, 14 pupils have benefitted from this experience. Apart from the obvious benefits derived to the individuals, we feel that the aspirational message associated with Mr Wilkie’s assembly and selection process ‘rubs off’ across the whole of the year group.
2. Portsmouth Festivities
As a former ‘performing arts college’ we have a strong tradition in delivering excellent dance, drama and music. Our partnership with The PGS has opened the door for our pupils and staff to participate in Portsmouth’s premier arts festival. This often involves working with a range of schools across the city and enhances the experience our performing arts pupils have.
3. Teacher Exchanges
We have undertaken a number of teacher exchanges to provide professional development opportunities for staff at Mayfield and The PGS. To date, there have been exchanges in Maths, History and French. Both schools are committed to building upon this.
4. Pupil volunteers
A fairly new project has been welcome pupils from The PGS to support pupils in our primary phase. Feedback is positive and we look forward to watching this programme grow.”

D
Mr Charles Mubiru, Head of Kikaaya College School, Uganda wrote:
1. The impact of our (PGS) fundraising in terms of:
a. Infrastructure and facilities development –
i. Classrooms have been painted and a large vocational classroom roofed and plastered.
ii. The internet has been installed and is paid for annually, with WiFi equipment provided in order to serve the school computers, as well as that used by the Director.
iii. Video conferencing facility has been installed.
iv. Mosquito nets provided for the school
b. Educational opportunities –
i. Deliveries of hundreds of ‘retired’ textbooks, atlases, literature and clothing (including that for sport) by container that are used in the library and in classrooms for lessons.
ii. Provision of the first ever sinks for the school to provide running water for the science laboratory, and provision of heat sources to enable science experiments to take place.
2. Developing links between the schools, especially any shared practice or resources that they have developed as a result of our input:
a. Tree planting and provision of information on sustainable agricultural practices. Through practical help from The Nation Foundation, vegetables are now grown on the school site.
b. Building a Memory Garden.
c. Debating – especially on issues of the environment and sustainability.
d. Cultural exchange – songs, dancing, musical instruments – lessons and joint performances and the gift of guitars and ukuleles.
e. Art – development of banners celebrating our link, and exchange of pictures.
f. Pen pal letter exchanges, video exchanges and the development of friendships.
g. Introduction of rugby to the curriculum .
h. Greater awareness of the concept of Global Citizenship and what it means to be a global citizen through training and communication.
i. Vision and opportunities developed by school visits and communication – the Director was impressed by CCF at PGS and its potential in his school, the use of pigeon holes to aid communication with staff, the benefit of smaller class sizes, and the possibility for professional development opportunities through The British Council and online.
j. Exchange of work between the Geography departments and interaction between pupils and teachers between the schools – questionnaires on domestic energy use and conservation, and mind maps of the local areas.
k. Introduction of Socrative and some of the possibilities of technology to support teaching and learning. Practical support to make this possible in the future.
l. Pupils’ England Group to raise awareness of and support for our link.
m. Academic input into lessons by visiting teachers.
n. Perception shifts regarding the challenges of life in the UK. KCS has seen that the UK suffers too – and that we have to work really hard for things, including Brexit. The pupils were very moved by the terrorist attacks in the UK and the Grenfell Tower fire.
3. The impact that our pupils have when they visit the school
a. Inspirational in terms of their work ethic – it inspired KCS pupils to join in with practical work plastering the classroom and painting rooms.
b. Friendships have been enduring
c. Help in the classroom with teaching and learning
d. Opened up new perceptions and concepts to Ugandan people.
4. Future projects and areas we would like to see developed:
a. Digital learning between our schools
b. Practical and academic projects/challenges/work between departments
c. Library expansion and development of systems
d. Sustainable agriculture further developed
e. Completion of the vocational classroom
f. Development of toilet facilities
g. Further teacher exchanges
h. Gap year work – PGS pupils can work at KCS through The Nation Foundation.
The link has ultimately made our countries real to each other – staff and pupils. We care what happens and what each other is going through, and we take action to support and help where that is possible. Work is carried out due to the trust and respect that we have for each other. KCS pupils often ask Mr Mubiru, ‘When are our brothers and sisters from PGS coming?’ We are beyond colleagues, we are family, we are ‘Partners in Learning’”.


E
Portsmouth Festivities
The Portsmouth Grammar School has had a long association with the Portsmouth Festivities, an excellent programme of Arts and Culture that runs for 10 days across the city at a large variety of venues, including the school. A huge number of performers get the opportunity to showcase their talents through this forum and the Portsmouth and local communities have the opportunity to enjoy an enormous variety of performances. The school supports in a number of ways: we provide the facilities for the Portsmouth Festivities office and employ one full time Festivities Manager, one part time Festivities administrator and one full time assistant who is a GAP student; we provide school facilities for venues too.