The core emphasis of our educational outreach programme is to provide support and access to our facilities for the local primary schools in our area, both in West Berkshire and in Reading. This is also coupled with developing a working partnership with two local comprehensives - Blessed Hugh Faringdon in Reading and Theale Green.

Primary Schools

The Primary Schools programme initially started with providing a Cross Country and Kwik Cricket competition in the Lent and Summer terms, to which we have now added a Mixed Netball Tournament in the Michaelmas term. We feel this is an area where the College and our pupils can make a valued contribution to the community and where there is an opportunity to help broaden and enrich the education of a significant number of children.

Our pupils are now involved in mentoring at a local primary school, involved with helping to develop a choir with the Head of Music at another, assisting with Drama lessons, involved with helping to coach after school mixed football and helping out at the local primary school's After School Club.

The College Science School has also run a specific Key Stage 2 revision course at the College for Churchend Primary. The development of the new Science Centre also has in its remit a commitment to help provide access to its facilities for primary school science and it is envisaged that schools will be attending the College on a regular basis in the future.

The College also helped to support the Primary Schools Maths Week last year by hosting two lectures by the well known children’s television presenter Johnny Ball. The charismatic entertainer spoke to over 400 pupils as a culmination to their annual Maths Week.

Secondary Schools

Although the main emphasis has been on the primary school links, the College has also started to develop a partnership with the Blessed Hugh Faringdon School where the aim is to develop links between departments and to help support activities at the school.

We will also work with Theale Green on the support of primary science in the area as it is part of their remit as a science specialist school. There is also an opportunity for both schools to develop a shared use of facilities in the future.