Introduction

This document is a statement of aims and objectives of Alton Convent School for community links.

Rationale

The development of community links is important in order to broaden the horizons of pupils and to enable the school to benefit from and contribute to the community in which it is based. 

Aims

To participate fully in the local community sharing our skills and resources

To develop links with the business community

To participate fully in the wider community of the world

Objectives

• Reflect the teachings of the Catholic tradition to the wider world by our involvement and support
• To enrich the local community by sharing the resources of the school and the skills and talents of its staff and pupils.
• To establish and develop links with the business community
• To offer support and participation to local organisations
• By prayer and reflection to support those working in communities throughout the world
• To develop opportunities for pupils to benefit from the knowledge and facilities of the business community through work experience, work shadowing and opportunities to meet people from different business genres and learn of their experiences
• To use the expertise available in the community to help the pupils to develop their potential to the full
• Enhance the experience of our own students by encouraging them to look at the issues of the community in which they live and to be aware of their role within the community
• To enable pupils within the school to develop an understanding of the different needs of others and to increase their awareness of world issues
• To enable pupils within the school to be aware of global issues and of the wider world and of their part in a global society
• To participate in and contribute to professional networks within the wider educational community.

Procedures

There is a designated member of staff responsible for local community links whose role is to establish and develop contact with organisations within the local community.  Such organisations will include, but not exclusively, businesses, local charities, hospitals, care homes and other schools.

The designated member will report as appropriate to the Head Mistress, the Director of Studies in the Prep School and members of SLT to decide if the link is an appropriate one to develop.  Following a decision, action is taken such as arranging work experience and other careers education.  

There is a bi-annual Careers Fair for pupils from Alton Convent School and other invited schools

Links with local charities will be developed through voluntary work and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.  The staff member responsible for this will make such arrangements with the agreement of the Head Mistress and SLT.

Members of the local community are invited to appropriate school events with the agreement of the Head Mistress.

The School develops links with the wider world through the Community who have Houses all over the world, through charity work and through our annual Sixth Form Conference with other Catholic Schools and the HCPT Pilgrimage to Lourdes and bi-annual visit to the Sister Community and School in India.

Staff are, from time to time, encouraged to take on or develop roles within the wider community of educational practice as part of their professional development and appropriate provision is made for attendance at meetings, conferences etc.

Staff have responsibilities to assist with and organise community links as directed and requested by the Head Mistress.