St Albans School and St John Fisher RC Primary School Partnership

Teaching staff along with Lower Sixth (Year 12) helpers travel to St John Fisher School on Friday afternoons to provide master classes for the primary school pupils. Classes are offered in Music, Drama, Art, French and Maths. A timetable is established at the start of each academic year with the teachers from St Albans School visiting for a term or half a term to run classes at St John Fisher. Two additional Sixth Formers also attend each week to act as classroom assistants. 

Aims

The aim of the project is to help provide specialist teaching to children in state schools in the St Albans community. Our teachers are able to cover specific areas of the Primary School curriculum as requested by the Partnership School. It is also our aim to provide St Albans School teachers and students the opportunity to work in a different environment with children of different ages. The Sixth Form assistants from St Albans School benefit from working out in the community and learn valuable soft-skills.

Background

St John Fisher School is a local Primary school that we have been in Partnership with for several years.

Resources

The main resource is the time provided by St Albans School staff and pupils; time is spent on the project by the teaching staff and Sixth Form assistants, as well as by the Head of Partnership who coordinates the programme. Materials for the Art sessions are also provided.

We provide transport for teachers and pupils attending these sessions.

Impact

Feedback is received from the St John Fisher teachers who are enthusiastic and appreciative of the support provided. St Albans school teachers and pupils fill in a feedback form each year about their experiences.

Pupil Involvement

Two Lower Sixth pupils help with the Art masterclasses. We also have two pupils who volunteer as classroom assistants.

Frequency

Activities take place weekly during term time throughout the academic year, on a rotational basis.